Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted his 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season to give leaders Paris Saint-Germain an unconvincing 1-0 win over bottom club AS Nancy-Lorraine on Saturday.
In his ninth league appearance, Ibrahimovic toyed with four defenders before nonchalantly firing a shot just past Guy Roland Ndy Assembe 15 minutes from time to put PSG on 22 points.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side lead second-placed Toulouse, who beat Stade Brestois 29 3-1, by three points before third-placed Olympique de Marseille, also on 19 points, were due to take on fourth-placed Olympique Lyonnais yesterday. Nancy remain last on five points.
Photo: Reuters
Once again PSG had Ibrahimovic to thank as they suffered against a bold Nancy side, who came close in the first half when Benjamin Moukandjo’s strike smashed against Salvatore Sirigu’s left post.
Ancelotti’s side also had their chances before the break through Mamadou Sakho and Kevin Gameiro, but the two were denied by brilliant saves by Ndy Assembe.
Ibrahimovic dipped a long-range shot just over the bar in the 70th minute as PSG increased the pressure.
While Jeremy Menez wasted a couple of great opportunities, Ibrahimovic made the most of the little space he had with 15 minutes left to score the only goal.
Wissam Ben Yedder scored his seventh goal of the season to help Toulouse sweep past Brest.
Champions Montpellier Herault moved up to 12th on 11 points thanks to a 3-1 home victory against OGC Nice.
LOSC Lille Metropole ended Valenciennes’ brilliant run with a 2-1 home win against their neighbors, who were reduced to 10 men.
Valenciennes, who had scored 12 goals in their previous three league matches, lacked inspiration and fell behind in the second minute when Gaetan Bong deflected a Nolan Roux shot into his own net.
Dimitri Payet made it 2-0 four minutes before the interval after Carlos Sanchez had been sent off for a second booking in the 28th minute.
Anthony le Tallec scored a consolation goal in the second half.
Promoted sides Stade de Reims and ES Troyes AC shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw.
The game between Sochaux-Montbeliard and Evian Thonon Gaillard was called off because of snow.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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