Skip to main content

PSG restores seven-point lead atop Ligue 1

Jeremy Menez (right) and Zlatan Imbrahimovic both scored to pad PSG's Ligue 1 lead.

Jeremy Menez (right) and Zlatan Imbrahimovic both scored to pad PSG's Ligue 1 lead.

PARIS (Reuters) -- Paris St Germain's Jeremy Menez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck second-half goals to secure a 2-0 win at Stade Rennes as their understrength side restored a seven-point lead in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Menez, who has lost his starting role this season, fired home in the 57th minute before league top scorer Ibrahimovic struck his 26th of the season in added time as PSG get ready to visit Barcelona in the Champions league on Wednesday.

PSG have 64 points with seven games left ahead of Olympique Marseille who beat visitors Girondins Bordeaux 1-0 on Friday.

Rennes, who were fourth before the December break, have now slipped to 10th with 42 points.

"It was a very complicated game," PSG's France defender Mamadou Sakho told TV channel Canal Plus. "But we have a winning mentality - just see the team's reaction after the second goal. It shows our desire to go get this title."

Fourth-placed Nice stayed on course for a Champions League qualifying spot when Kevin Anin's injury-time goal secured a 4-3 win at Toulouse two minutes after Wissam ben Yedder equalised for the home side in the 90th.

Both teams finished with 10 men after Toulouse's Ali Ahamada and Alexy Bosetti of Nice were shown straight red cards for dangerous tackles in the final minutes.

Nice have 51 points, two behind third-placed Olympique Lyon who travel to Stade Reims on Sunday (1500 GMT).

Champions Montpellier are seventh on 48 points after beating visitors Valenciennes 3-1.

In Rennes, PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded a largely reserve team four days before their Champions League quarter-final return at Barcelona following a first-leg 2-2 draw.

Midfielder Javier Pastore, fellow Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi, fullback Christophe Jallet and midfielder David Beckham all started on the bench while Brazil centre back Thiago Silva was not even on the team sheet because of a knee problem.

Their Sweden striker Ibrahimovic was one of only four players who started against Barca at the Parc des Princes last Tuesday when PSG snatched a last-gasp draw.

PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu kept out Sadio Diallo's low shot in the 14th minute as PSG got started sluggishly but Rennes were slow to take advantage in a dull first half.

Menez, who has started on the bench for most of PSG's important games recently, was keen to make a point, showing the visiting fans his name on the back of his shirt after coolly slotting home following a dazzling run past the Rennes defence.

However, he had a sulky look on his face when he was substituted for Pastore 15 minutes from time.

Beckham and Lavezzi, introduced for Marco Verratti and Kevin Gameiro respectively, also got into the action ahead of Wednesday's Nou Camp clash.

It was from Beckham's attempted chip with the outside of his boto in the 93rd minute that Ibrahimovic headed home although he appeared to be an offside position.

Meanwhile, Nancy kept their hopes of survival alive when Romain Grange's second-half goal gave them a 1-0 win against bottom club Troyes.

Nancy, who had been in the bottom two since late September, are now 18th in the 20-team standings, one point below the safety zone on 30 points, while Troyes have 25 points.