Batzra blog

Erding double keeps PSG's title hopes alive

PARIS (AFP) – Paris Saint Germain, who were last crowned French champions back in 1994, moved to within one point of leaders Lille with a 2-1 win over bottom club Arles-Avignon on Saturday.

Turkish striker Mevlut Erding, PSG's top scorer last season, ensured the points with goals in either half, with Senegelese midfielder Deme Ndiaye grabbing only the hosts' 11th goal of the campaign on the hour mark.

This 10th win of the season moved PSG up to 37 points, although Lille can extend the gap to four with victory over Lens in the day's late kick-off.

The loss anchored Arles at the foot of the table on a mere eight points, a massive 12 adrift of second from bottom Monaco who host champions Marseille on Sunday.

Multiple former champions Lyon came away from their trip to Valenciennes the 2-1 losers but still leap-frogged Rennes on goal difference to take third after the Brittany side's 5-1 drubbing at mid-table Sochaux.

A brace from Modibo Maiga and contributions from Marvin Martin, Nigerian Ideye Brown and Ryad Boudebouz's 74th minute penalty earned Sochaux the win, with Rennes' solitary riposte coming from Razak Boukari.

This was a chastening experience for Rennes who started the match with the best defensive record in the league.

To add insult to injury goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez was given a red card.

Lyon, hustled out of the French Cup last weekend by Nice, came unstuck courtesy of a 51st minute spot kick converted by Valenciennes' Serbia midfielder Milan Bisevac, with Gregory Pujol doubling up seven minutes later.

Michel Bastos gave Lyon hope in the 71st minute but the hosts held on gamely thanks in no small part to the sterling efforts of goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau.

Bakary Sako scored twice to earn Saint Etienne a 2-1 win over Toulouse which moved them up two places into sixth, while Caen moved out of the relegation zone after a 2-0 win over Auxerre and Lorient came out 2-0 victors in their midtable clash with Brest.

Aside from the south coast clash between League Cup finalists Marseille and Monaco, Sunday's programme features troubled Bordeaux agaisnt Nice and Nancy hosting Montpellier, Marseille's opponents in the League Cup final.