Zabarnyi Sparks PSG Comeback Win at Strasbourg Ahead of Barcelona Test

Paris Saint-Germain recovered from an early setback to beat Strasbourg 3-1 at the Stade de la Meinau, with Illia Zabarnyi scoring his first goal of the season to begin a decisive late turnaround. The result kept PSG top of Ligue 1 and extended their momentum before Barcelona’s Champions League visit.

A demanding Ligue 1 test

PSG spent much of the afternoon behind after Strasbourg struck early, leaving the French champions to chase the game in an intense away atmosphere. Zabarnyi said the contest illustrated why Ligue 1 should not be dismissed by supporters and commentators who use the “Farmers League” label.

The Ukraine centre-back pointed to the particular difficulty of returning to domestic action after a Champions League fixture. Strasbourg were determined to claim a major result against PSG, and the visitors had to keep working before their pressure finally produced a route back into the match.

“Coming back into league football after the Champions League can be difficult,” Zabarnyi said. “But Strasbourg wanted to win and matches against PSG in Ligue 1 are never simple. People make jokes about the league, but this was a hard game. They played well, though we were better.”

Zabarnyi sparks the comeback

The breakthrough did not arrive until the 77th minute, when Zabarnyi found the net for the first time this campaign. His goal changed the direction of a match that had appeared set to frustrate PSG for long periods, and the visitors went on to score twice more to complete a 3-1 win.

• PSG had conceded first and trailed for most of the fixture.
• Zabarnyi’s 77th-minute strike was his first goal of the season.
• The capital club added two further goals in the closing period.
• The 3-1 result maintained PSG’s position at the Ligue 1 summit.

The turnaround came despite further difficulty in the closing stages, when injuries added to PSG’s problems. Zabarnyi highlighted the side’s capacity to continue competing even when numbers and fitness issues work against them.

Collective response under Enrique

Zabarnyi credited the squad’s togetherness for seeing out a difficult trip after a demanding European week. PSG’s players remained committed as the game shifted late on, reflecting the standards required by Luis Enrique regardless of the score or available personnel.

“We expected a difficult match here,” he said. “We let in an early goal, but we continued, improved our performance and took the three points. We have a strong group with very good players. Even with 10 or nine players, we stay together. We win as a team.”

The defender’s assessment underlined PSG’s belief that resilience will be needed across both competitions, particularly on away grounds where opponents approach matches against the champions with added motivation.

Barcelona next for PSG

Having negotiated the Strasbourg test, PSG now return their focus to the Champions League and the visit of Barcelona. The meeting with the Catalan side will demand another major effort, while the league win ensures Enrique’s team enter it with their domestic lead intact.

Zabarnyi’s defensive contribution and his crucial equalising goal at the Meinau offered PSG an important lift ahead of that European occasion, as the club seek to sustain their Ligue 1 dominance while challenging against the continent’s leading teams.