Paris Saint-Germain produced a spirited second-half comeback to defeat Strasbourg 3-1 in Ligue 1 as Ousmane Dembélé turn an evening of frustration into a match-winning performance after missing a penalty.

The reigning French champions arrived at the Stade de la Meinau looking to maintain their momentum following their impressive Champions League victory over Manchester City. However, squad rotation appeared to affect their rhythm, as Strasbourg took advantage of PSG’s slow start to establish control during the opening half.

Giovanni Reyna gave Strasbourg a deserved lead in the 17th minute, finishing with a low left-footed strike to put the hosts ahead and leave PSG facing an unexpected challenge.

Strasbourg’s energetic approach troubled the visitors, who struggled to create their usual attacking threat. PSG’s heavily rotated starting lineup lacked the fluidity needed to break through the home defence, and the hosts went into the interval with a 1-0 advantage.

The situation could have become even more difficult for PSG after the restart. Strasbourg continued to threaten, and goalkeeper Matvey Safonov proved important in keeping his side within reach of an equaliser.

One particularly significant moment came around the 50th minute, when Safonov produced an important save to deny a header from Conrad Harder. The intervention prevented Strasbourg from extending their lead and gave PSG an opportunity to regroup.

Luis Enrique subsequently introduced several of his key players, including Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, as PSG searched for a response.

Dembélé’s introduction brought renewed attacking energy, but the Ballon d’Or winner initially experienced a moment he would have preferred to forget.

In the 72nd minute, PSG were awarded a penalty, presenting the visitors with an opportunity to draw level. Dembélé stepped forward to take responsibility but sent his effort wide of the target.

It was a costly miss at a time when PSG desperately needed a breakthrough. Strasbourg remained in front, and the missed penalty appeared to offer the hosts renewed hope of holding on for a significant victory.

However, Dembélé responded with the determination expected of a player of his quality, transforming the contest through two decisive contributions.

The equaliser arrived in the 77th minute when Dembélé delivered a dangerous ball into the penalty area from the right. Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi positioned himself well and finished with the inside of his foot, sending the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

The goal changed the atmosphere of the contest. PSG, who had struggled to impose themselves before the interval, suddenly had renewed belief, while Strasbourg were forced to reconsider their defensive approach.

Dembélé was not finished.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, the French forward completed his personal redemption by scoring the goal that put PSG ahead. Following an attacking move involving Hakimi and Ferran Torres, Dembélé collected the ball inside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike through the middle that goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic could not keep out.

The finish completed a remarkable turnaround for the visitors. Just minutes after missing a penalty, Dembélé had become the driving force behind PSG’s comeback, contributing an assist and a goal to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 advantage.

Strasbourg attempted to respond, but PSG had gained control of the match at the decisive moment.

The closing stages nevertheless brought another complication for the visitors. Nuno Mendes suffered an injury and had to leave the field, with PSG having already used all their available substitutions. The visitors were consequently forced to finish the match with 10 players.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, PSG found time to deliver another decisive blow in stoppage time.

In the 90th minute plus three, Désiré Doué sealed the victory by converting a cutback from Ferran Torres. The finish made it 3-1 and extinguished Strasbourg’s hopes of rescuing a result from a match they had controlled for significant periods.

For PSG, the final whistle confirmed a victory built on resilience, improved attacking quality and the influence of their substitutes. The result also moved the Parisian club to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Dembélé’s performance was the defining story of the evening. His missed penalty threatened to become the headline, but his subsequent assist and goal ensured that the mistake became only a brief chapter in a much more memorable performance.

Strasbourg will take encouragement from their first-half display and the pressure they applied before the visitors’ experienced players entered the contest. However, their inability to protect the lead ultimately proved costly.

For PSG, the comeback demonstrated the importance of depth and individual quality in difficult away fixtures. With Dembélé leading the response, the European champions recovered from a frustrating first half to secure a 3-1 victory that reinforced their ambitions in the French title race.