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Paris St. Germain eke out vital win away at Auxerre

Peguy Luyindula scored the only goal of the game as Paris St. Germain brought a controversial week to an end with a much-needed 1-0 win at Auxerre on Sunday to ease the club's relegation fears.

Luyindula headed home in the 49th minute from a cross from Jerome Rothen to clinch the three points, which will lift some of the pressure on coach Paul Le Guen.

Rothen had been the target of some vehement fan protests throughout the week and there was simmering tension before the game with riot police firing tear gas to disperse PSG fans.

The win kept PSG just one place above the relegation zone.

At the other end of the table, Bordeaux drew 1-1 with Nice to stay third, nine points behind leaders Lyon.

Marseille warmed up for today's do-or-die Champions League clash against Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Monaco on Saturday.

The win, their fifth of the season, also eased Marseille's relegation fears.

Central defender Julien Rodriguez, in the 53rd minute, and skipper Lorik Cana (70), both scored headed goals.

A win today would put Marseille into the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

Coach Eris Gerets praised the support his team received and said their backing will prove crucial at the Stade Velodrome against Liverpool.

Meanwhile, six-time champions Lyon, who travel to face Rangers tomorrow in another must-win Champions League clash, slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Caen.

The loss cut their lead to four points with second-place Nancy unable to take full advantage by playing to a dull 0-0 draw at Valenciennes.

With one eye on the tricky trip to Glasgow, Lyon coach Alain Perrin put vital players Juninho, Sydney Govou and Karim Benzema on the bench and handed Nadir Belhadj, Abdul Kader Keita and Milan Baros starting places.

Caen took full advantage of the champions' uncertainty with Yoan Gouffran scoring the only goal of the game after 17 minutes after a misunderstanding between Sebastien Squillaci and Cleber Anderson.

Juninho, Govou and Benzema were all introduced into the action late in the game but were unable to prevent Lyon from slipping to their fourth defeat of the season.

Juninho said that Lyon had great respect for Rangers who won the first meeting between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Le Mans leapt into third place with a 3-1 win at Lens and are now four points behind Nancy.

Bottom club Metz, with just one win all season, were 2-0 losers at sixth-placed Saint-Etienne.
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