Gessime Yassine brace hands Strasbourg first win

RC Strasbourg Alsace got their first win of the Ligue 1 McDonald's season thanks to a second-half brace from Gessime Yassine (2-1).

A confidence-boosting first win for Oliveira

Strasbourg had a difficult pre-season, failing to win any of their friendlies and conceding 21 goals in the process. That poor patch of form was carried into the first game of the Ligue 1 McDonald's campaign as they lost 4-0 to Olympique de Marseille at the Vélodrome. That result was, in part, the result of Samir El Mourabet's red card in the second half. It was after his sending-off that OM began to run away with the game.

However, RCSA looked to kick-start life under their new manager, Hugo Oliviera, at the Meinau on Saturday afternoon. There were a few familiar faces in attendance. It was Diego Moreira, who left Le Racing over the summer to join AC Milan who gave the fictitious kick-off, whilst Arsene Wenger was also in the stands at the Meinau.

It was a bright start from Strasbourg, but as they looked the more likely to score, it was Lens, who began the season well against AJ Auxerre last weekend (5-2), who took the lead. Abdallah Sima was tripped in the box and Florian Thauvin was on hand to slot home his third league goal in just two games.

Diego Moreira says goodbye! 🥹💙 pic.twitter.com/SNAjS4bViL
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) August 29, 2026

Le Racing managed to destabilise this exciting Lens side in the first half but headed into the break one down. That quickly changed in the second half as Yassine found space and finished into the near post.

Once parity was restored, it was Strasbourg who looked the most likely to take all three points. Jacobo Ortega thought he had netted his first for his new club from close-range, after Robin Risser had parried Sébastien Nanasi's effort onto the underside of the bar. But, after a long VAR review, the Real Madrid academy product was adjudged to have been offside.

But Oliviera's side were not deterred. The winner would come and it was Yassine who scored it. Nanasi put the ball across for the Moroccan to volley home in the 85th minute and there was no reaction for Le Racing, who suffer their first loss under new manager Dino Toppmöller.

>> Champions League: Who will the Ligue 1 sides face in the league phase?

>> 5 things to watch out for in Ligue 1 McDonald's this weekend

>> PSG complete spectacular injury-time comeback in Lille