Two goals in the final 15 minutes earned Strasbourg a point in an enthralling 3-3 draw with Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de la Meinau on Friday night.
THE MATCH
A raucous crowd at the Stade de la Meinau welcomed newly-crowned champions Paris Saint-Germain for their first game since wrapping up their tenth Ligue 1 Uber Eats title last weekend.
In the build up to the game, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted he didn't expect his side to show any complacency in their remaining four league games, but that plan went out of the window in the third minute courtesy of a familiar face.
Lift off
Former PSG striker Kevin Gameiro latched onto Lucas Perrin's through ball and fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range to put the hosts in front.
It was all too easy for the 35-year-old, who outpaced and outmuscled Presnel Kimpembe with relative ease as Pochettino looked on in dismay.
The goal lifted the roof off the Meinau and Julien Stéphan's men were feeding off the noise from the stands. PSG were lucky not to fall further behind when Adrien Thomasson's deflected effort found the net, only for it to be chalked off for offside (9').
Defensively, PSG were all over the place despite deploying a back three of Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos and Kimpembe. But Strasbourg's pressing was too much for PSG's lacklustre start as they searched for the three points to boost their Champions League qualification hopes.
PSG quickly found second gear and responded to the challenge. With their first chance of note, the champions got themselves on level terms.
Mbappé to the rescue
A sumptuous defence-splitting pass from Neymar found the onrushing Kylian Mbappé who subsequently made no mistake from seven yards, to register his 23rd goal of the season (23').
Both sides had chances to take the lead before the break with Neymar going close from range (31') before Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's thunderous strike sailed inches over the bar for Strasbourg (43').
Sanjin Prcic went close for the Alsatians early in the second half when his sweetly-struck effort agonisingly missed the target (56').
The champions once again gained control and took the lead in the 64th minute when Mbappé squared to Achraf Hakimi, and the Morocco international made no mistake from six yards out.
PSG were handed a gift just four minutes later when Mbappé took advantage of a poor Alexander Djiku back pass and the 23-year-old found the bottom corner to further extend the visitors' advantage.
Fight back
Pochettino's men were in cruise control, or so it seemed, and out of nothing Strasbourg pulled a goal back when Habib Diallo's header beat Donnarumma via the outstretched leg of Marco Verratti (75').
Strasbourg rallied for an equaliser and in the dying moments got their just rewards when an unmarked Anthony Caci volleyed a leveller to earn a vital point (90').
The result sees PSG extend their unassailable lead at the top to 14 points, whilst Strasbourg provisionally climb to fifth.
THE PLAYER: Kylian Mbappé
There are few superlatives left to describe the Frenchman. Once again Mbappé rescued his teammates with some magical moments whilst adding two goals and an assist to his tallies for the season. Another world class performance from PSG's most important player.
THE STAT: 130
Kylian Mbappé scored both his 130th and 131st goals in Ligue 1 Uber Eats during the draw with Strasbourg. Only Edinson Cavani has scored more in the top flight this century (138).