Ligue 1 wrap: PSG capitalise as Lille, Montpellier falter

Paris Saint-Germain lead Ligue 1 by three points after a 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne on Wednesday, as Lille and Montpellier slipped up.

A goal just after the half-hour mark from Mathieu Bodmer was enough for Antoine Kombouare’s men to seal the three points at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and move the capital club clear of Montpellier, who were upset by Evian.

Lille drew 4-4 with Nice to pave the way for PSG’s ascension.

Montpellier, on top of the Ligue 1 table heading into the match, suffered a 4-2 loss away to Evian.

All the goals came in the second half at the Parc des Sports in Annecy, with Younes Belhanda putting Montpellier in the lead two minutes after the break before Cedric Barbosa levelled for the hosts.

Olivier Giroud scored after 54 minutes to give Montpellier the ascendancy once more, but goals from Saber Khelifa, Cedric Cambon and Brice Dja Djedje made sure of the points for Evian.

Reigning champions Lille looked in control after nine minutes of their home clash with Nice when Aurelien Chedjou put them ahead, until a header from Reanto Civelli pulled Nice level just after 15 minutes.

Former Liverpool winger Joe Cole restored Lille’s lead on 27 minutes, but a brace from Franck Djadjede ensured Nice held a 3-2 lead at half-time.

The match turned in the 71st minute when Nice winger Eric Mouloungui was sent off for his second yellow card, and Lille equalised five minutes later through Eden Hazard.

A Florent Balmont goal in the 88th minute looked to have secured all three points for the title holders, but there was one more twist in the tale as Francois Clerc snatched an equaliser for the visitors in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Fourth-placed Lyon suffered a 1-0 defeat at Valenciennes, after defender Aly Cissokho put the ball into his own net after 28 minutes.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, an injury-time goal from Tunisian attacker Issam Jomaa helped Auxerre secure a 2-2 draw at home to struggling Dijon, while a second-half strike from Jires Kembo Ekoko saw Stade Rennes defeat Bordeaux 1-0.

Ajaccio defeated Sochaux 2-0 at the Stade Auguste-Bonal, with Benjamin Andre and an own goal from Mathieu Peybernes doing the damage for the visitors.

Toulouse and Brest played out a scoreless draw, as did Lorient and Caen.