PSG, Rennes thwarted in bid to reach summit

A last-minute goal from Nene earned Paris Saint-Germain a 1-1 draw at Lorient on Sunday, while Rennes squandered the chance to go top of the table in a 2-1 defeat at Auxerre.

Both PSG and Rennes were hoping to end the day at the head of the French first division, but Nene’s goal meant only that the sides swapped places in the standings, with Paris climbing to fourth and Rennes dropping to fifth.

PSG are now two points behind leaders Brest, with Auxerre a further two points off the pace in eighth.

Kevin Gameiro had already hit the bar for Lorient with a delicate lob before the unmarked Lynel Kitambala pounced at a corner in the 32nd minute to put them ahead.

The visitors carried a consistent threat going forward though, and Lorient goalkeeper Fabien Audard had to produce spectacular saves to keep out headers from Guillaume Hoarau and Mathieu Bodmer either side of the interval.

PSG felt they should have had a penalty when Mevlut Erding fell under a challenge from Jeremy Morel and moments later it took a finger-tip save from Gregory Coupet to deny Sigamary Diarra and keep Paris in the game.

Coupet’s save acquired greater significance in the final minute, when Nene controlled Bodmer’s header across goal before firing into the bottom-right corner to rescue a point for Antoine Kombouare’s men.

“You can see that we never give up and we have a team that hates to lose, which is good,” said PSG coach Kombouare.

There were worrying scenes on the PSG bench as France international striker Hoarau collapsed in the aftermath of Nene’s equaliser, but he walked back to the changing room unaided after receiving attention from medics.

“Guillaume banged his head in the first half,” said Kombouare.

“He carried on playing on adrenaline but it swelled up. It’s better now though.”

Liverpool coach Roy Hodgson was at Auxerre on an apparent scouting mission but he had to wait until the 67th minute for a disappointing game to come to life, as Valter Birsa put the hosts ahead with a superb strike.

The Slovenian forward picked the ball up in midfield before jinking past Kader Mangane and bending a sublime shot into the top-left corner with the inside of his left foot.

Rennes hit back immediately, Jires Kembo Ekoko lashing home from close range after his initial header struck the post, but there was a sting in the tale for the would-be league leaders.

Roy Contout charged into the Rennes box in the 86th minute and although he was felled by goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez, substitute Franck Quercia was on hand to tuck home the winner from a tight angle.

Lyon host Nice in the final game of the weekend later on Sunday, when victory for Claude Puel’s misfiring side would see the 2002-2008 champions draw level on points with sixth-placed Marseille.

Brest held onto the lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday after Nolan Roux’s equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw at home to Sochaux.

A first-half hat-trick by Moussa Sow set Lille on the way to a 5-2 win at Caen that sent the northern side up to second, while champions Marseille drew 1-1 at home to Lens.