A dramatic game in Alsace saw PSG goalkeeper Matfei Safonov save Joaquin Panichelli's early penalty for Strasbourg, before Senny Mayulu gave the visitors the lead. Guela Doue, elder brother of PSG star Desire, levelled for the home side before the half-hour mark, but Portugal left-back Mendes headed in the winner for the reigning French and European champions in the 81st minute.

Luis Enrique's team had been reduced to 10 men on 74 minutes as Moroccan star Hakimi was sent off for a high tackle on Panichelli - he was initially shown a yellow card only for the punishment to be upgraded to red after a VAR check. Having missed out on direct qualification for the Champions League last 16 in midweek following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, PSG bounced back here to make it six successive Ligue 1 victories.

As a result, they are two points clear at the top of the table from Lens, who defeated Le Havre 1-0 on Friday. "We were fortunate to win this match when most people would have thought it was impossible," said Luis Enrique.

"It was not our best performance. In the end I don't know if we deserved to win or not but it was very important." For Strasbourg, the defeat was their first in four matches under new English coach Gary O'Neil, appointed last month after Liam Rosenior left for Chelsea.

They remain seventh, but are only two points adrift of Lille in fifth. Strasbourg were awarded a penalty following a VAR check after PSG captain Marquinhos blocked a shot with his arm.

However, Safonov dived to his right to keep out the penalty by Argentina striker Panichelli. "He is the best goalkeeper I have ever worked with when it comes to stopping penalties," Luis Enrique said of the Russian.

Mayulu then prodded PSG into the lead, only for Doue to finish off a fine move to equalise by turning in Ben Chilwell's cross. Strasbourg must have hoped they could go on to win the game after Moroccan star Hakimi was sent off on his first Ligue 1 appearance in three months, but Mendes headed in Warren Zaire-Emery's cross to take the points back to Paris.

"I am really proud of the team but really disappointed that we somehow found a way to lose, because I thought we were excellent and created the better chances," said O'Neil. "Many teams lose to PSG just defending but we were in the game the whole way -- it does give us the belief that we can go again."

Nuno Mendes

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