Moise Kean got among the goals as Paris Saint-Germain tightened up the title race with a win in Round 25 while their rivals Lille, Lyon and Monaco all stuttered and stumbled in an eventful weekend of Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches.
The reigning champions might have been forgiven for having one eye on Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Last 16 first leg with Barcelona, but Mauricio Pochettino's men kept their focus on domestic issues with goals from Julian Draxler and Kean giving them a 2-1 home victory against Nice.
"Every game is difficult. I think that we came from a tough circumstance, 10 games in under 40 days is difficult with all the issues of Covid 19 and it's a special time," explained the PSG boss, whose side have now won their last six home league games. "That's why we're happy with the three points and overall with the win and the very professional performance."
That victory, which came thanks to Kean's tenth goal in just 15 shots on target in the French top flight this season, eased PSG into second ahead of Lyon, who were surprisingly beaten 2-1 at home by Montpellier. "We lacked a clinical edge," complained OL boss Rudi Garcia, who saw Lucas Paqueta equalise just before half-time only for Elye Wahi to net the matchwinner midway through the second half. "Montpellier didn't have a lot of chances, but they scored two goals."
WATCH: PSG see off Nice to move into second
Lille remain top of the table, but saw their lead cut to just a single point as they were held to a goaless draw at home to Brest on Sunday. "We had an incredible opportunity with the very favourable results and in this type of game, you need character, personality," said Christophe Galtier after seeing his team fail to muster a single shot on target. "My forwards lacked healthy aggression in the opponent's penalty area."
Monaco, who go to PSG on Sunday, are now six points off the top after failing to win for the first time in 2021. They would even have lost but for a Wissam ben Yedder brace — the second goal of which came three minutes into added time — that cancelled out Terem Moffi's double for the visitors. "It's good to get a point in those conditions," noted Monaco boss Niko Kovac. "Lorient played as they have done recently, very compact. From our side, we didn't show our usual qualites. The mix of the two led to the draw."
Rennes are clinging on to fifth, but were beaten for a second time in a four-game winless run as Saint-Etienne picked up a welcome three points in Brittany, and Julien Stéphan's men were indebted to Reims who held Lens and Strasbourg who defeated derby rivals Metz for keeping them on their lofty perch.
Marseille failed to win on their 36th successive visit to Bordeaux, but did pick up a point, though OM remain winless in seven league games after the goalless draw. Nîmes moved off the bottom of the table thanks to a 2-0 win at Dijon that leaves the Burgundy outfit, who have lost their last five matches, propping up the division. Early goals, including one from Nigeria international Moses Simon, helped Antoine Kombouaré get off to a winning start as Nantes coach with a 3-1 triumph at Angers that ended Les Canaris' 15-game wait for a three-point haul.
>> MATCH REPORTS: PSG edge Nice, OL slip up
