PSG begin recovery from Barca defeat with win at Lorient

Paris St Germain’s Christopher Nkunku in action with Lorient’s Arnold Mvuemba

Paris St Germain started their recovery from an embarrassing Champions League exit in Barcelona with a 2-1 win at bottom club Lorient to maintain their Ligue 1 title challenge on Sunday.

PSG, who were humiliated 6-1 away to Barca in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday after winning the first leg 4-0, have 65 points from 29 games and trail Monaco by three points after the leaders beat Girondins de Bordeaux 2-1 on Saturday.

Nice are two points further back in third after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Caen on Friday.

PSG’s domination at Lorient was rewarded in the 28th minute, when Benjamin Jeannot deflected an Edinson Cavani backheel into his own net to put the visitors in front.

Cavani then found midfielder Christopher Nkunku, who doubled the lead by floating a shot past Benjamin Lecomte.

PSG struggled towards the end of the match, however, as they grew nervous after Michael Ciani reduced the arrears when he headed home from a corner in the 68th minute.

Olympique Lyonnais, who have a game in hand, are fourth on 50 points after thrashing Toulouse 4-0 thanks to a Memphis Depay double, with the former Manchester United forward finding the back of the net with a splendid lob from the halfway line.

“I had seen in the first half that the keeper was far from his line and I kept this in the back of my mind,” said Depay.

“When I got the ball I knew where he was and all I had to do was turn around and shoot without thinking. I did not even see the ball go in but I heard the crowd going mad.”

Summaries from the Ligue 1 matches
Sunday, March 12
FC Lorient 1 Michael Ciani 68
Paris St Germain 2 Benjamin Jeannot 28og, Christopher Nkunku 52
– – –
Olympique Lyon 4 Christophe Jallet 36, Maxwell Cornet 47, Memphis Depay 53,82
Toulouse 0
– – –
St Etienne 2 Robert Beric 53, Loic Perrin 90+5
Metz 2 Ismaila Sarr 1, Simon Falette 67
– – –
Saturday, March 11
En Avant de Guingamp 5 Yannis Salibur 47, Lucas Deaux 56, Jimmy Briand 70, Ludovic Blas 78, Alexandre Mendy 86
Bastia 0
– – –
AS Nancy-Lorraine 1 Issiar Dia 31
Lille 2 Nicolas De Preville 63pen, Rony Lopes 81
– – –
Stade Rennes 1 Wesley Said 58
Dijon FCO 1 Julio Tavares 42
– – –
Montpellier HSC 2 Steve Mounie 12, Ryad Boudebouz 84
Nantes 3 Prejuce Nakoulma 23,68, Emiliano Sala 89
– – –
Monaco 2 Kylian Mbappe 68, Joao Moutinho 74
Girondins Bordeaux 1 Diego Rolan 84
– – –
Friday, March 10
Olympique Marseille 3 Florian Thauvin 9,77, Remy Cabella 20
Angers SCO 0
– – –
Nice 2 Mario Balotelli 71, Anastasios Donis 77
Caen 2 Ivan Santini 36, Yann Karamoh 50

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