Revamped PSG loses at Strasbourg ahead of Champions League semi against Arsenal
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — With its focus already on Arsenal, a revamped and young Paris Saint-Germain suffered a second straight Ligue 1 loss on Saturday.
Champion PSG lost at Strasbourg 2-1. With the match coming between the two legs of the Champions League semifinal against Arsenal, PSG coach Luis Enrique rotated his team. Only Joao Neves was retained in the starting XI.
PSG started with four players born in 2006 or later: Warren Zaïre-Emery, Senny Mayulu, Axel Tape and Ibrahim Mbaye.
“I’m very proud of the young players, they showed what they’re capable of,” Enrique said. “We played a very good match but didn’t get the result we wanted. Now we need to recover and concentrate on Wednesday’s game.”
Star striker Ousmane Dembele, who picked up a light hamstring injury in the 1-0 win in London, was rested ahead of next week’s game against the Gunners at the Parc des Princes. Bradley Barcola, Mbaye and Goncalo Ramos started up front.
Strasbourg took the lead from a corner. Mamadou Sarr’s glanced header was clumsily diverted in by PSG defender Lucas Hernandez. It was Strasbourg’s ninth goal from a corner, the highest tally in the French top flight.
PSG was punished again just before halftime when Felix Lemarechal curled in a superb strike from outside the box.
Barcola pulled one back just after the interval. He collected the ball inside PSG’s half, went on a 50-meter run into the area and finished the impressive solo effort from close range with remarkable composure.
The result extended Strasbourg’s unbeaten run to 12 matches and lifted the team to fifth in the standings. Strasbourg has collected more points since the start of the year — 40 — than PSG.
PSG suffered consecutive Ligue 1 losses for the first time in more than two years. PSG’s bid to go unbeaten in Ligue 1 was ruined last month when it lost to Nice 3-1.
Balogun scores first goal since injury
Monaco striker Folarin Balogun scored his first Ligue 1 goal this year following shoulder surgery, as struggling Saint-Etienne was beaten 3-1.
The U.S. forward was picked by Maghnes Akliouche and beat the offside trap to seal Monaco’s win from the edge of the box.
Akliouche put Monaco ahead after just two minutes. Zuriko Davitashvili leveled for Saint-Etienne in the second half, three minutes before Moatasem Al Musrati put the visitors back in control.
Monaco moved into second place, level on points with Marseille, which has one match in hand and plays at Lille on Sunday.
Balogun returned to competition in March after undergoing surgery in December on his dislocated shoulder. The forward had previously been sidelined for about two months and returned to competition at the end of November. But he took a hit during a game against Marseille that aggravated the problem.
Saint-Etienne remained in the relegation zone.
Toulouse back to winning ways
Goals from Yann Gboho and Aron Donnum helped Toulouse to its first home win since mid-December.
Toulouse defeated Rennes 2-1 to end a seven-match winless streak and moved level on points with its 11th-placed rival.
“We needed this. The players showed courage and character. The fans have been patient, and tonight we gave them something back,” Toulouse coach Carles Martínez Novell said.
Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimuendo scored his 15th goal of the season.
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