Ibrahimovic sent off as PSG loses to Saint-Etienne

PARIS (AP) -- French leader Paris Saint-Germain lost its unbeaten league record and lost top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic to a red card in a 2-1 home loss to Saint-Etienne on Saturday.

An own goal from center back Mamadou Sakho gave the visitors the lead in the 55th minute, and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it 2-0 in the 73rd. The defeat put an end to PSG's four-match winning run in all competitions.

Ibrahimovic was shown a straight red card in the 70th for kicking goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier in the chest. Ibrahimovic was racing on to a long pass when he clattered into Ruffier, and both players fell to the floor.

Ruffier, who has been one of the league's best `keepers this season, had stopped Ibrahimovic from scoring his 11th league goal of the campaign with a smart save early on.

Substitute Guillaume Hoarau pulled a late goal back for PSG, which had to replace midfielders Blaise Matuidi and Clement Chantome during the match due to injury.

PSG is three points clear of Toulouse and Marseille, which has played two games less.

Toulouse is at Bordeaux and Marseille visits Ajaccio in Sunday's games.

Valenciennes climbed above Saint-Etienne on goal difference and into fourth place after beating struggling Sochaux 3-1 at home, with striker Gregory Pujol scoring twice and midfielder Foued Kadir getting the other goal.

In other results, it was: Evian 0, Lille 2; Nice 2, Nancy 1; Rennes 1, Reims 0, and Troyes 1, Montpellier 1.

At Parc des Princes, Aubameyang was also involved in his team's first goal when his firm cross hit Sakho's leg as the France defender went to close him down, and the ball looped over stranded goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

It was the first goal PSG has conceded at home in the league since it drew 2-2 with Lorient on the opening day.

Aubameyang then got on the end of Alejandro Alonso's clinical pass and beat Sirigu with a confident finish to silence the home crowd.

Hoarau gave them hope when he grabbed his first league goal since March after being set up by playmaker Javier Pastore.

Lille climbed up to seventh place thanks to goals from striker Nolan Roux and midfielder Florent Balmont, while Mevlut Erding's early goal helped improving Rennes up to eighth.

Nice moved five points clear of the regelation zone after goals from midfielders Mahamane Traore and Eric Bautheac.

Meanwhile, midfielder Younes Belhanda's fourth league of the season earned Montpellier a point at Troyes, which is in 19th spot. Nancy is last.

Lyon faces Bastia in Sunday's other match.