RC Strasbourg came from behind to beat newly promoted ES Troyes AC 6-2 at the Stade de l’Aube, extending their record to four consecutive Ligue 1 away victories against sides promoted to the top flight.
Troyes had made an encouraging start to the season, with one win and one draw from their opening two matches, and they took an early lead through Antoine Mille. He met Anis Ouzenadji’s cross with a volley which took a deflection off Oso on its way into the net.
The opening half was an entertaining contest, with both goalkeepers called upon to make important saves. Patrick Beach denied Jacobo Ortega from a narrow angle, while Filip Jorgensen reacted sharply to keep out Adrien Monfray’s close-range attempt after a free-kick.
Strasbourg winger Gessime Yassine was a constant threat and forced another intervention from Beach when his deflected effort appeared to be heading towards the goal.
Yassine had provided an assist against Troyes last season while playing for Dunkerque, and he again created a goal against the same opponents by finding Ortega in space. Ortega had the simplest of finishes, tapping in the equaliser.
The visitors then turned the game around before half-time. Diogo Sousa twisted away from his marker and struck towards goal, with Beach making the initial save. Sousa reacted first to the rebound and converted to give Strasbourg a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Strasbourg continued to press after the restart and added a third before the hour mark. They won possession high up the pitch, moved the ball quickly and created the opening for Giovanni Reyna, whose shot took a deflection and left Beach wrong-footed.
With a two-goal advantage, Strasbourg began to play with greater freedom. Yassine produced a skilful nutmeg and then curled an effort narrowly wide.
Troyes still had opportunities to reduce the deficit. Dermane Karim found room inside the area and forced Jorgensen to tip his shot over the crossbar, but the hosts lacked the quality required to turn their chances into goals.
Strasbourg instead made the most of the space on the counter-attack. Substitute Sam Amo-Ameyaw produced a fine finish, curling the ball against the post and into the bottom corner.
He soon completed a quickfire double. After cutting inside, Amo-Ameyaw held his shot for the right moment before sending a powerful effort into the top corner.
There was still time for Strasbourg to score a sixth. Sousa released Conrad Harder one-on-one, and the forward calmly rounded off his debut by slotting the ball past Beach.
Troyes managed a late consolation when Jeremy Le Douaron scored from inside the box, but the defeat ended their six-match unbeaten home league run, during which they had won five and drawn one. It was also their first loss of the season.
Strasbourg have responded to their 4-0 defeat by Olympique de Marseille on the opening weekend with successive victories. The result was their first away win in this head-to-head fixture since March 2009, following two draws and two defeats in the intervening matches.