Marseille beats Bordeaux, cuts into PSG's lead

Marseille's Andre-Pierre Gignac (right) challenges with Bordeaux's Marc Planus.

Claude Paris/AP

Marseille took advantage of a defensive howler to beat Bordeaux 1-0 and provisionally cut the gap to French leader Paris Saint-Germain to four points on Friday.

Andre-Pierre Gignac scored in the 41st minute following a rapid counterattack. He beat the offside trap to run onto a long ball from Benoit Cheyrou before cutting inside. Ludovic Sane slipped as he raced back to cover, allowing the France striker to dribble around him and slot past goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso for his 11th league goal of the season.

Bordeaux played well but struggled to create any real scoring opportunities. It has only won one of its past eight league matches.

Bordeaux had to wait until 20 minutes from time for its first shot on goal, but goalkeeper Steve Mandanda did well to deny Nicolas Maurice-Belay.

The visitors had another good chance shortly afterward when Henri Saivet's effort from a corner flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Marseille remains second following a fourth successive match without conceding a goal, and will be hoping PSG slips up in the match at Rennes on Saturday.

"It's an important win,'' Marseille striker Andre Ayew said. "The race continues, the road is still long but we're happy. We're right on form. Of course we're delighted.

"We're going to do everything to keep hold of second place. PSG is really far ahead but if we maintain our consistency then anything can happen. We're going to work hard, we have a hard game at Lille next week and we'll try to get a result there.''