French Title Race Goes To Last Day As PSG Wins, Lille Draws

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain routed Reims 4-0 to take the French title race to the last day, as Lille drew 0-0 at home to Saint-Etienne on Sunday for a one-point lead at the top.

Both teams are away next weekend, with PSG at Brest and Lille facing Angers.

PSG coasted after Reims had defender Yunis Abdelhamid sent off in the 11th minute for a handball, and Neymar converted the penalty with a staggered run-up followed by a typically casual shot which sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Kylian Mbappe doubled the lead midway through the first half after a mistake from defender Thomas Foket, who sent the ball in his own penalty area straight to Mbappe for a league-leading 26th goal and 40th overall this season.

Central defender Marquinhos scored with a trademark downward header midway through the second half and Italy striker Moise Kean completed the scoring in the last minute.

Lille struggled to break down an organized Saint-Etienne side but came close to scoring in the 36th when Luiz Araujo’s shot sailed just wide after he latched onto striker Burak Yilmaz’s astute pass.

Lille almost won during injury time but attacking midfielder Yusuf Yazicis free kick hit the post and Yilmazs shot from the rebound was blocked by a defender.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHASE

Monaco won to keep its title hopes alive. It is one point ahead of Lyon, which is chasing third place and the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Monaco beat seventh-place Rennes 2-1 with Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin setting up striker Wissam Ben Yedder’s 21st league goal of the campaign and adding the second goal with a slightly deflected strike.

Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta grabbed two goals and star forward Memphis Depay one as Lyon coasted to a 5-2 win at 19th-place Nimes, which was relegated by the defeat.

Midfielder Houssem Aouar added the fourth following a fine team move and substitute forward Islam Slimani headed in the fifth from close range for Lyon.

EUROPA LEAGUE PUSH

Marseille moved into pole position for fifth and a Europa League berth by beating Angers 3-2, but only after the visitors rallied from 2-0 down to 2-2.

Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik then netted an injury-time penalty to complete a hat trick and take his tally to nine in 15 games since joining on loan from Napoli.

Marseille is three points ahead of sixth-place Lens, which lost 3-0 at Bordeaux.

BASEMENT BATTLE CONTINUES

Nantes won 4-0 at last-place Dijon for a fourth straight win but remained 18th and in the relegation-playoff position because Lorient won 2-1 at home to Metz to stay 17th.

Lorient is level on points with 16th-place Brest, which may need a result against PSG next weekend, and 15th-place Strasbourg with the sides only apart on goal difference.

Imposing striker Ludovic Ajorque scored both goals in Strasbourg’s 2-0 win at Nice.

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