LIAM ROSENIOR had three goes at beating Paris Saint-Germain when he was boss of Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.
And in the course of achieving one win, one draw and one defeat in those Ligue 1 clashes, Rosenior played to his team’s strengths and exposed the weaknesses of Luis Enrique‘s French and European champions.
Strasbourg took the game to PSG in all three encounters, despite the wealth of attacking talent at Enrique’s disposal.
More than once, Rosenior’s side took advantage of PSG’s vulnerability at set-pieces, which Chelsea will also try to exploit tonight.
In the draw and victory, Strasbourg played three at the back which perhaps explains Rosenior’s experiment with three centre backs in the FA Cup game at Wrexham.
But for one reason or another, Chelsea’s sister club never faced a full-strength PSG when Rosenior was in charge.
So the Champions League last-16 tie against the holders will be a new experience for Rosenior in that sense.
Yet Chelsea have also proved they know how to beat PSG, after their comprehensive 3-0 win the Club World Cup final last July.
The Blues’ victory has been played down by critics because it was a pre-season event held at the end of a long season.
But Rosenior and his team have the chance to prove it was no fluke, with the help of the head coach’s insight from his three encounters with PSG
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
October 19, 2024 – PSG 4-2 Strasbourg
Current Chelsea players Andrey Santos and Mamadou Sarr both featured for Strasbourg, while Luis Enrique rested a number of PSG stars for the first game after an international break.
Teenage midfielder Senny Mayulu gave the home team an early lead, but Strasbourg’s high-energy, pressing style meant they had 16 shots in the first half alone – more than PSG had given up to any team.
Marco Asensio doubled PSG’s lead but former Southampton forward Sekou Mara reduced the deficit.
Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang-In, with a late goal, took the game away from Strasbourg. But Pape Diong grabbed a stoppage-time consolation from a corner.
May 3, 2025 – Strasbourg 2-1 PSG
Enrique’s side had been crowned champions nearly a month before and he fielded a second team four days before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.
Strasbourg had settled into a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Rosenior using the previously left-sided Valentin Barco as a central midfielder.
Again, a corner paid dividends for Strasbourg, with Sarr’s header forcing Lucas Hernandez into a 20th-minute own goal.
Felix Lemarechal doubled the home team’s lead and although Barcola pulled one back straight after the break, PSG fell to their first away defeat in Ligue 1 for more than two years after 39 games unbeaten on the road.
October 17, 2025 – PSG 3-3 Strasbourg
Every neutral will be hoping for a repeat of this brilliant match. But Rosenior will want more resilience from his Chelsea side if they get in front.
Strasbourg bounced back from Barcola’s early opener for an injury-hit PSG and found themselves 3-1 up in the 49th minute through Joaquin Panichelli’s second goal.
Just before the hour visiting goalkeeper Mike Penders, on loan from Chelesa, fouled Desire Doue and Goncalo Ramos equalised from the penalty spot.
Mayulu equalised in the 79th minute, but Panichelli had a chance to complete his hat trick and grab a winner, only to put a late header wide.
Unbeatable horse racing breaks
RACING fans are in for a bumper year.
And we’ve teamed up with travel experts Racing Breaks to smash the price of your sporting calendar.
Don’t miss out on these unbeatable deals.
🏆 GRAND NATIONAL — Race ticket, 4* hotel and transfers — — from £229pp
🏇 EPSOM DERBY — Amazing 4* hotel, ticket to course plus transfers — — from £179pp
👑 ROYAL ASCOT — Ticket for day of your choice, hotel and transfers — — from £169pp
*If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue.
