PSG 4 - 2 Strasbourg summary: score, goals, highlights, Ligue 1
PSG vs Strasbourg: match report; as it happened
Kylian Mbappé provided the bulk of the entertainment for new teammate Lionel Messi watching in the stands, as the Frenchman scored one and set up two in PSG's 4-2 win over Strasbourg at Parc des Princes.
After Icardi gave PSG the lead in the third minute with a solid headed strike, Mbappé made it 2-0 in the 24th after his long-range shot towards the far post took a wicked deflection off Ludovic Ajorque’s head.
Three minutes later, a deflection went Mbappé’s way again, this time as he crossed a ball towards Julan Draxler, which allowed the unmarked German to tap the ball in by the far post to give PSG a 3-0 cushion before half time.
The Parisian side looked to be plain sailing as the second half started but some astute technical changes by Strasbourg coach Julien Stephan gave his side the impetus to go on to score two goals, with Gamiero (53') and Ajorque (64') both scoring with headers to put the visitors very much back in the game.
But Strasbourg's hopes of a third goal were quickly dashed when Alexander Djiku was sent off in the 81st minute after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession. Minutes later, Mbappé killed off the game, whizzing past the defender on the left before squaring a pass to Sarabia inside the six-yard area, who easily slotted the ball passed Metz Sels to give the hosts the 4-2 victory.
And with that win, PSG have secured a maximum six points from their first two games in Ligue 1, where they are hoping to reclaim the title from Lille this season.
Game over!
Peep, peep, peep! All over in Paris as PSG run out 4-2 winners in the end.
One last chance for PSG as Mbappé goes direct for goal from a free kick from 30 yards. It sails just wide of the near post.
Four minutes of added time to be played.
What a chance for Strasbourg! Diallo with a huge defensive error as he passed the ball back to Navas, and Majeed is quick to latch on to the wayward pass. He's one on one with Navas, who saves the near-post shot. It should be 4-3! Big chance wasted by Majeed, while Diallo breathes a sigh of relief.
GOAL PSG! 4-2!
Mbappé shifts up a gear and cruises passed the defender as he enters the box on the left, before squaring a pass to the unmarked Sarabia, who has an easy tap-in from five yards out.
GOAL PSG! 4-2!
Mbappé shifts up a gear and cruises passed the defender as he enters the box on the left, before squaring a pass to the unmarked Sarabia, who has an easy tap-in from five yards out.
Red card for Djiku
Djiku has picked up two yellow cards in a matter of minutes, the second one for a push on Icardi, and he is off! That will really put a dent on Strasbourg's chances of finding an equalizer.
Sarabia has a chance to deliver a free kick towards the Strasbourg box, but the visitors head the danger away.
Three changes for Strasbourg: Goalscorers Gameiro and Ajorque, and Prcic go off. Majeed, Diallo and Siby come on.
Substitution for PSG as Draxler, who scored PSG's third goal, makes way for Spaniard Sarabia.
As we approach 70 minutes, it's fair to say Strasbourg have been easily the better side in this second half. They've never won in Parc des Princes, can they keep this momentum to find another goal, and maybe a fourth? PSG look a little out of sorts.
GOAL STRASBOURG! 3-2!
The visitors are very much back in this game! Left back Lienard crosses towards Ajorque, who sends a powerful header past Navas and into the far corner from 16 yards out.
Mbappé! Mbappé plays the give-and-go to Draxler, who returns the ball to Mbappé with a first-time back heel pass to leave Mbappé with just the keeper to beat. But Sels saves!
Strasbourg have a 2-on-1 with Ajorque all alone in the center of the box! But Kehrer does well to cut out the pass on route to Ajorque, who surely would have scored.
Goal Strasbourg! Gameiro pulls one back!
Great cross from the right into the box, where Gameiro has positioned himself between the two center backs and he heads home to make it 3-1.
Yellow card for PSG's Dina for a late challenge on Bellegarde, giving Strasbourg a free kick from not far outside the box on the left. The free kick delivery is poor and cleared away by the PSG defense.
Mbappé! He sails past the defender to put himself one-on-one with keeper Sels, who does well to deny Mbappé his second goal.
Second half begins!
Strasbourg get the second half underway, where their job will be damage limitation at this point.
Strasbourg are on the field and awaiting PSG to reappear to start the second half.
Mbappé has been on point so far, scoring the second goal and setting up the second. Although on both occasions his final touch took a fortunate deflection off a defender.
First half ends!
Peep, peep! The ref calls an end to the first half with PSG heading to the tunnel with a comfortable 3-0 lead thanks to goals from forward trio Icardi, Mbappé and Draxler.
Strasbourg change as Aholou goes off with a slight muscle injury. He is replaced by Thomasson.
Rare chance for Strasbourg as Gameiro shoots towards the near top corner from the edge of the box. A decent effort but it's just over. He had support from the overlapping Ajorque on his left but decided to go for goal himself.
A little bit of a lull over the last few minutes after those two quick goals. PSG in control of possession. Can they add a fourth before the break?
GOAL PSG! 3-0!
On the left side of the box, Mbappé takes on one defender, off whom his cross takes a lucky deflection and ends at the feet of Julian Draxler at the far post. The German has an easy tap-in to make it 3-0. Two lucky deflections for Mbappé have led two PSG's second and third goals.
GOAL PSG! MBAPPE MAKES IT 2-0!!!
Mbappé launches one from the edge of the box on the left towards the far corner. The ball takes a wicked deflection off Ajorque and finds its way into the net.
Hakimi with a decent cross into the box from the right, but there is no PSG players on hand by the penalty spot and Perrin clears the danger.
Strasbourg have had two corners in quick succession but on both occasions the delivery only reaches the clearing head of a PSG defender.
Decent strike from Strasbourg forward Ajorque from just inside the box on the right towards the left corner. The shot takes a deflection and the visitors have a corner. But they can do nothing with the set piece opportunity.
Hakimi with the volley! Mbappé rushes towards the box on the left drwaing a few defenders before squaring pass all the way over to the right side where Hakimi is incoming. The Moroccan hits a sweet volley first time. The shot was on target but a Strasbourg defender blocks the ball on route to the left corner.
Strasbourg have their first chance to attack on the break but they're eventually forced backwards as PSG regroup.
PSG controlling these early phases here as they look for a second goal.
GOAL PSG!
Great ball into the box from full back Diallo and Icardi jumps high to head the ball home. There's a VAR check on an offside. Icardi's arm was definitely offside but the goal stands. 1-0 PSG!
Match starts!
PSG get the game underway in Paris.
The teams are on the field.
PSG teams have exited the dressing room and are set to emerge from the tunnel in a few moments. New signins Achraf Hakimi and Gini Wijnaldum start today.
PSG's five new signings got a very welcome reception at the Parc des Princes stadium a while ago. But now attention turns to the game at hand.
Strasbourg starting XI
Sels, Fila, Djiku, Sissoko, Perrin, Lienard, Aholou, Prcic, Bellegarde, Ajorque, Gameiro.
PSG team warming up
The PSG fans warming up at the Parc des Princes, where Kylian Mbappé will be accompanied by Mauro Icardi and Julian Draxler in attack.
Messi steps onto the Parc des Prince field in front of a packed house for the first time
Last but not least.... Leo "MESSI!", Leo "MESSI!", Leo "MESSI!". A historic moment in Paris.
His first message to the crowd: "It has been a very special week for me. I want to thank everyone for the reception since I arrived in Paris. It has been truly incredible. I feel very happy and excited. Very happy to be here. Very happy with this new stage I'm going to experience. A lot of excitement and I hope together we can enjoy this year and make it a great year for us. I am very excited about everything."
PSG starting XI announced
Navas, Hakimi, Kehrer, Kimpembe, Diallo, Wijnaldum, Herrera, Draxler, Mbappé, Icardi
Well no Messi or Ramos of course, but two other new faces start the game, Achraf Hakimi and Gini Wijnaldum.
Messi steps onto the Parc des Prince field in front of a packed house for the first time
Last but not least.... Leo "MESSI!", Leo "MESSI!", Leo "MESSI!". A historic moment in Paris.
His first message to the crowd: "It has been a very special week for me. I want to thank everyone for the reception since I arrived in Paris. It has been truly incredible. I feel very happy and excited. Very happy to be here. Very happy with this new stage I'm going to experience. A lot of excitement and I hope together we can enjoy this year and make it a great year for us. I am very excited about everything."
Fourth out is Sergio Ramos: "It's a special day for me. We have a very big team, a very big project, we hope to win every title possible."
New keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is next up. He will offer serious competition to Keylor Navas for the goalkeeper starting position.
Next up is Gini Wijnaldum: "Before I joined this beautiful club, I knew, that with these fans, everything is possible."
Wijnaldum was the first PSG signing this summer.
The presentations begin with Achraf Hakimi out first. The fans chant his name. "I'm happy about the goal I scored and I hope to score many more in front of these fans."
PSG starting XI announced
Navas, Hakimi, Kehrer, Kimpembe, Diallo, Wijnaldum, Herrera, Draxler, Mbappé, Icardi
Well no Messi or Ramos of course, but two other new faces start the game, Achraf Hakimi and Gini Wijnaldum.
Strasbourg have never defeated PSG at the Parc des Princes. Could they pull of the ultimate surprise tonight? Unlikely but at least they will not have Ramos, Neymar and Messi in their way as three are not fit enough to play tonight.
Club legend Javier Pastore receives a huge reception at the stadium as he makes his way to the interview area. The Argentine midfielder played in Paris from 2011 to 2018 but is now a Roma player. Needless to say there is a still a lot of love for him in Parc des Princes, where the interviewer is struggling to get a word in over the chants.
Pastore of course played with Messi at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and is currently discussing his compatriot.
Ramos tells Messi: "You can stay at my house" after ex-Barcelona star's arrival at PSG
Back in March, as the rumor mill surrounding Messi’s Barcelona exit continued to turn, Ramos jokingly offered Messi a place to stay if he chose to join Real Madrid.
Fast-forward four months and it appears that the former Madrid defender has once again offered the Argentine striker a place to stay, only this time it appears the offer is for real.
According to El País journalist Juan Irigoyen, Ramos has already contacted Messi - who just landed in Paris this week after signing for PSG - to offer up his home to the ex-Barca captain and his family while they look for a new residence in the French capital.
Club legend Javier Pastore receives a huge reception at the stadium as he makes his way to the interview area. The Argentine midfielder played in Paris from 2011 to 2018 but is now a Roma player. Needless to say there is a still a lot of love for him in Parc des Princes, where the interviewer is struggling to get a word in over the chants.
Pastore of course played with Messi at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and is currently discussing his compatriot.
PSG team have arrived at Parc des Princes
The PSG bus has just arrived as the players make their way to the dressing room at the already-packed Parc des Princes stadium. Mbappé, quite aptly, was the last man off the bus. The Strasbourg team arrived a few minutes before them.
Atmosphere electric at the Parc des Princes
Still 90 minutes to go til kick-off but the stadium is already full of very vocal PSG fans. It's first full-capacity game at the stadium since March 2020 and what an occasion tot welcome back the PSG faithful, who are all here early to see the presentation of Lionel Messi.
In pictures: Nelson Sánchez poses with his latest creation in San Salvador en El Salvador, a piñata of Messi in the PSG shirt.
A couple of new editions to the PSG locker room
While Messi and Ramos won't play today, fellow new arrivals Achraf and Wijnaldum could see some action against Strasbourg...
Big pressure on Poch to deliver silverware
With Ramos, Messi, Neymar and Mbappé, the pressure will be on Pochettino to ensure PSG reclaim the Ligue 1 title from Lille, not to securing their first-ever Champions League trophy.
PSG: Messi and Sergio Ramos finally meet as teammates
Clásico rivals become PSG teamates.
It may still be hard for some Real Madrid and Barcelona fans to process: former Clásico captains Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi - once arch enemies on the pitch - are now teammates in Paris.
Having shared many a heated tussle down through the years, Ramos and Messi will now share a dressing room at PSG, where it is hoped the pair’s combined experience will greatly help the club in its quest for its first-ever Champions League title.
Check out the video of their first encounter in Paris.
Ramos and Messi will not play today
Fans hoping to see the pair in action will be disappointed as they are not in the squad to face Strasbourg.
Ramos is still recovering from a calf issue that will keep him out of action until after the mid-September, while Messi has been given time by coach Maurcio Pochettino to regain his fitness after a break following Argentina’s title-winning Copa America campaign.
"Today was [Messi’s] second training session since the Copa America final," Pochettino said at a pre-match news conference on Friday. "The priority for him is to feel better and better. Only then will we see if he is ready to play matches.”
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Ligue 1 clash between PSG and Strasbourg. We're starting earlier than usual as PSG are set to present their five new signings, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, before the game at 7.45pm local time (1.45pm ET), with the game getting underway at 9pm local time (3pm ET). Lots ahead so stay with us for updates!