RC Strasbourg Alsace has taken a step towards qualification by winning on the pitch of HNK Rijeka (2-1) on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in the first leg of the Conference League Round of 16. However, the end of the match was also marked by a clash between Valentín Barco and Samir El Mourabet at the final whistle.
According to L’Équipe, the two Strasbourg players grabbed each other by the jersey and exchanged heated words before being separated by their teammates, notably Guéla Doué and Lucas Högsberg. The scene slightly marred the evening for the Alsatian club, despite their victory in Croatia.
Present at the press conference after the match, Gary O’Neil sought to calm the situation. The Strasbourg coach downplayed the incident, explaining that it was not something particularly serious and that such tensions can occur in the life of a group.
Despite this episode, Strasbourg leaves Rijeka with a valuable advantage ahead of the return match. From a sporting perspective, the essential has been secured for Racing, even if this altercation between two young players drew attention at the end of the match.
