For three minutes PSG showed signs that their midweek defeat at Real Madrid might have had a more damaging effect on their morale than any of their staff had let on. That was how long they were behind against Strasbourg for. 14 minutes after equalising they were 3-1 up and in cruise control.
Strasbourg grabbed a goal back with 20 minutes to go that could have brought on a nervous finish, until Cavani scored twice in seven minutes to seal the points and pad out the scoreline for ‘les Parisiens’.
PSG started the game well as they looked for a breakthrough, but they lost the ball and Strasbourg capitalised. A counter-attack down the right saw the ball squared to Aholou in the box who made no mistake first time from 10 yards to shock those in attendance at the Parc des Princes.
Thankfully for the league leaders, the wobble was a short one and they were back on terms minutes later. Neymar’s ball was cut out by the defence and fell to Julian Draxler, who took it left footed and placed it beyond the reach of Oukidja in goal.
12 minutes later and after some awful play from the Alsatians, PSG were out of sight. First, Neymar tapped in from one yard out after he bamboozled the keeper and an onrushing defender, but within a minute they had another. From the kick off Strasbourg tried to pass across the back four and wanted too much time, Di Maria nicked the ball of Martinez and finished at the near post and the game took on a very different complexion.
Half-time came and went with no change to the scoreline, and surprisingly it was Strasbourg who finally got themselves back within reach. A ball over the top followed by a square pass saw Bahoken pick the ball on the edge of the box and he passed a low effort past Areola’s outstretched fingertips.
There were four minutes between this Strasbourg goal and PSG’s reply. Thiago Motta, returning from injury, played Cavini through and he chipped the keeper to restore the two goal lead. Another four minutes after this he was in again. Neymar put a ball over the top and Cavani took a touch before hitting it on the bounce over the goalkeeper with his instep.
It was an ultimately convincing win for PSG, who could easily have crumbled after the first goal, given recent events. Strasbourg had already beaten them at home in the league this season and they started in the right way to go about achieving an unlikely double.