Paris Saint-Germain needed a late penalty from Kylian Mbappe to bag a 2-1 win over RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Wednesday evening.
Lionel Messi was an obvious absentee for PSG following Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup success and the onus up top fell on Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Junior and Hugo Ekitike.
PSG didn't take long to register though when Marquinhos escaped one challenge in the area and headed home his compatriot Neymar's floating cross.
Italian Marco Verratti, who just signed a new contract with the host, looked to make it two from a turn and shot in the area moments later but ran into trouble and therefore missed out.
Upon the half-hour mark, PSG continued to have the momentum and were denied a second when a superb stop by Matz Sels directed Mbappe's clever attempt from Sergio Ramos' ball away.
Strasbourg responded and their first entry to the PSG defensive area saw a first-time drive by Kevin Gameiro force Gianluigi Donnarumma to make a remarkable double save.
Both teams enjoyed chances before halftime with Gameiro close off a header before Ekitike mis-timed a cross from Nordi Mukiele and fluffed wide.
Strasbourg got back on level terms five minutes after halftime as Marquinhos steered a snap-shot from Adrien Thomasson past Donnarumma and into his own net.
More woes fell on the host inside the closing quarter with Neymar given a red card after a foul on Thomasson and subsequent diving earned him a second booking and ultimate dismissal.
Christophe Galtier pulled out a double substitution minutes to full-time in Carlos Soler for Ekitike and Pablo Sarabia ahead of Vitinha with Achraf Hakimi on the field too.
PSG were given a penalty in additional time as Mbappe succumbed to a challenge in the area. The French forward stepped up to fire in from the spot and handed the host maximum points.
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