Strasbourg boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification with a 2–1 victory over a much-changed Paris Saint-Germain side on Saturday, as the Ligue 1 champions rested key players ahead of their midweek showdown with Arsenal.

A Lucas Hernandez own goal handed the hosts the lead after 20 minutes, before Félix Lemarechal added a second in first-half stoppage time. Although PSG reduced the deficit shortly after the break through Bradley Barcola, Strasbourg held firm to claim all three points in Alsace.

Liam Rosenior’s in-form Strasbourg are now unbeaten in 12 matches stretching back to early February, and the win lifted them to fourth place in the Ligue 1 standings—at least temporarily—pending the rest of the weekend’s results.

PSG have already secured a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, but saw their domestic unbeaten run come to an end last weekend. Manager Luis Enrique responded by rotating heavily, making 10 changes from the team that won 1–0 at Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. Only Portuguese midfielder João Neves retained his place in the starting line-up.

Ousmane Dembélé, who netted the winner at the Emirates Stadium, was absent altogether after sustaining an injury in that match. His availability for Wednesday’s return leg in Paris remains uncertain. The French international is PSG’s top scorer this season with 33 goals in all competitions.

Luis Enrique handed a top-flight debut to 17-year-old centre-back Axel Tâpe and gave a third Ligue 1 start to fellow 17-year-old winger Ibrahim Mbaye.

Strasbourg capitalised on PSG’s inexperience and opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Mamadou Sarr flicked on a corner, and the ball deflected in off Hernandez.

Gonçalo Ramos had two decent opportunities to equalise for PSG, but Strasbourg extended their lead just before the interval. Habib Diarra surged down the right flank and squared for Lemarechal, who struck first time from the edge of the box into the far top corner.

At half-time, Hernandez and Lee Kang-in—who had been carrying a knock—were withdrawn, with 18-year-old defender Noham Kamara making his Ligue 1 debut.

PSG halved the deficit inside the opening minute of the second half, as Barcola embarked on a surging run from deep inside his own half before poking home his 19th goal of the season in all competitions.

Despite late pressure, including eight minutes of stoppage time, Strasbourg held on for the win.

They now sit just one point behind second-placed Marseille, who travel to Lille on Sunday, and are level on points with third-placed Nice, who edged Reims 1–0 on Friday, separated only by goal difference.

Should Strasbourg maintain their position in the top four, they would qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 1979–80 season.

However, the race remains tight, with Lille, Monaco and Lyon all within three points. Monaco visit Saint-Étienne later on Saturday.