PARIS – RC Strasbourg Alsace moved into Ligue 1’s top three after overcoming Paris FC 3-2 at Stade Jean-Bouin, with loanee Kendry Páez scoring his first goal for the club in an entertaining contest.
In their first top-flight meeting in over a decade, Paris made the brighter start. Maxime Lopez forced Mike Penders into a fine stop from distance before the Strasbourg goalkeeper denied Adama Camara with another acrobatic save. The visitors struck first against the run of play on 27 minutes when 18-year-old Páez ghosted between two defenders to head in Diego Moreira’s inventive outside-foot cross.
Paris pushed after the interval, with Ilan Kebbal – Ligue 1’s joint-leading scorer – testing Penders again, only to be thwarted by the in-form Belgian keeper. Strasbourg then seized control and doubled their lead in the 78th minute. A rapid counter saw Emanuel Emegha unselfishly square for substitute Guéla Doué to finish from close range.
The hosts immediately hit back through Nouha Dicko’s header from Kebbal’s delivery, but Strasbourg reasserted themselves minutes later. Emegha powered home a thunderous strike into the top corner, confirmed after a VAR review, to make it 3-1. Alimami Gory’s stoppage-time header reduced the arrears, yet Strasbourg held firm to seal just their fifth away win over a promoted side since 2017.
The result extends Le Racing’s impressive start under Patrick Vieira, who now has four wins from five matches. Paris, meanwhile, have shown flashes of attacking quality but suffered their third defeat of the campaign in a spirited performance that ultimately came up short.
