The China Mail - PSG beat Strasbourg after Hakimi red to retake top spot in Ligue 1

A dramatic game in Alsace saw PSG goalkeeper Matfei Safonov save Joaquin Panichelli's early penalty for Strasbourg, before youngster Senny Mayulu gave the visitors the lead.

Guela Doue, elder brother of PSG star Desire, levelled for the home side before the half-hour mark, but Portugal left-back Mendes headed in the winner for the reigning French and European champions in the 81st minute.

Luis Enrique's team had been reduced to 10 men on 74 minutes as Moroccan star Hakimi was sent off for a high tackle on Panichelli -- he was initially shown a yellow card only for the punishment to be upgraded to red after a VAR check.

Having missed out on direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, PSG bounced back here to make it six successive Ligue 1 victories.

As a result, they finish the weekend where they started it: two points clear at the top of the table from Lens, who defeated Le Havre 1-0 on Friday.

For Strasbourg, the defeat was their first in four matches under new English coach Gary O'Neil, appointed last month after Liam Rosenior left for Chelsea.

They remain seventh, but are only two points adrift of Lille in fifth.

- Lyon 10 in a row -

Elsewhere on Sunday, Lyon continued their excellent run of form with a 1-0 win over Lille to make it 10 straight victories in all competitions and further boost their chances of a return to the Champions League.

Danish midfielder Noah Nartey scored the only goal of the game late in the opening half, a first for the 20-year-old since his arrival from Brondby last month.

The seven-time French champions have now won 10 successive games since a 1-0 loss at Lorient in early December, including five on the bounce in Ligue 1.

That form has allowed Paulo Fonseca's side -- also boosted by the arrival of Brazil striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid -- to cement their grip on fourth place in the table, which brings with it a spot in next season's Champions League qualifying rounds.

With 39 points, Lyon trail Marseille in third only on goal difference and are seven points clear of Lille, for whom this was in contrast a sixth loss in seven matches in 2026.

Marseille followed their exit from the Champions League during the week by squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Paris FC on Saturday -- OM and OL are nine points worse off than PSG.

Sunday's other results saw Nice come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Brest, while Toulouse drew 0-0 with Auxerre and Angers defeated bottom side Metz 1-0.

The weekend's big winners were Monaco, who hammered Rennes 4-0 on Saturday. The principality side, who will play PSG in the Champions League play-off round later this month, are 10th, 12 points adrift of the top four.

O.Tse--ThChM