Ligue 1 Wrap: PSG go four points clear as Lille held

Paris Saint-Germain went four points clear at the top of Ligue 1 as a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick inspired them to a 3-1 win over Nice.

Laurent Blanc’s men went into Saturday’s game at the Parc des Princes knowing they could extend their lead at the summit following third-placed Monaco’s 1-1 draw with Evian on Friday.

And the champions made no mistake as Ibrahimovic produced a wonderful display to seal the points.

The Sweden international turned home Gregory van der Wiel’s volleyed cross to put PSG in front seven minutes prior to half-time, before doubling their lead from the spot 12 minutes into the second half.

Defender Nemanja Pejcinovic pulled one back for Nice on 70 minutes, but their hopes of a fightback were ended when Ibrahimovic capped off his treble with a powerful header from Lucas Moura’s right-wing delivery that represents his 50th goal for PSG.

Blanc’s side are now four points ahead of Lille in second place following their 0-0 draw at Guingamp.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Lionel Mathis was sent off late on, but Rene Girard’s side could not take advantage in a game bereft of clear-cut chances.

Elsewhere, Valenciennes missed the chance to move out of the bottom three as a last-gasp equaliser forced them to settle for a 1-1 draw with Montpellier.

Ariel Jacobs’ men took the lead at the Stade du Hainaut after six minutes through Benjamin Angoua’s close-range strike, but midfielder Benjamin Stambouli struck in the 91st minute to earn a share of the spoils for Montpellier despite Mathieu Deplagne’s dismissal.

Bastia maintained their unbeaten home record as they overcame Rennes 1-0 thanks to an eighth-minute goal from Lille loanee Gianni Bruno.

Bruno held off the attentions of several Rennes defenders to volley past Benoit Costil and secure a win that sees the Corsicans leapfrog Philippe Montanier’s side into ninth place.

Meanwhile, Toulouse were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Ajaccio, as Reims played out a goalless stalemate at Lorient, who had winger Maxime Barthelme sent off in the second half.