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Monaco victory keeps Paris Saint-Gerrmain's celebrations on ice Monaco victory keeps Paris Saint-Germain's celebrations on ice
(about 1 hour later)
Monaco ensured Paris Saint-Germain will have to wait another week at least to claim the Ligue 1 title after Dimitar Berbatov's wonderfully impudent finish earned a 1-0 victory over Nice at the Stade Louis II.Monaco ensured Paris Saint-Germain will have to wait another week at least to claim the Ligue 1 title after Dimitar Berbatov's wonderfully impudent finish earned a 1-0 victory over Nice at the Stade Louis II.
Berbatov's third goal since arriving in the principality gave the hosts their 21st win of the season and left their rivals needing two more wins from their final five games to guarantee back-to-back titles.Berbatov's third goal since arriving in the principality gave the hosts their 21st win of the season and left their rivals needing two more wins from their final five games to guarantee back-to-back titles.
Meanwhile, Ajaccio's relegation to Ligue 2 was confirmed at the hands of their Corsican neighbours Bastia as they slumped to a 2-1 derby defeat. Only a win would have been good enough to delay the inevitable, and although Aboubacar Camara put them ahead just five minutes in, Florian Raspentino levelled after half an hour and Sebastien Squillaci delivered the final insult a minute from time as Bastia took all three points. Meanwhile, Ajaccio's relegation to Ligue 2 was confirmed at the hands of their Corsican neighbours Bastia as they slumped to a 2-1 derby defeat. Only a win would have been good enough to delay the inevitable, and although Aboubacar Camara put them ahead just five minutes in, Florian Raspentino levelled after half an hour and Sébastien Squillaci delivered the final insult a minute from time as Bastia took all three points.
There was better news for Sochaux, who closed to within two points of securing yet another season in the top flight by beating Reims 1-0. Sebastian Corchia's first-half goal delivered a second straight win for Les Lionceaux and a great escape appears to be on the cards for Herve Renard's men. There was better news for Sochaux, who closed to within two points of securing yet another season in the top flight by beating Reims 1-0. Sebastian Corchia's first-half goal delivered a second straight win for Les Lionceaux and a great escape appears to be on the cards for Hervé Renard's men.
Thumped 6-2 at home to Nantes were the team one place below Sochaux in 19th, Valenciennes. Ariel Jacobs' side were desperate for a result but their hopes were effectively over by half-time as goals from Johan Audel, Alejandro Bedoya and Serge Gapke put Nantes firmly in control. Gapke's second made it 4-0 early in the second half, and although Carl Medjani and Jean-Christophe Baheback pulled goals back late on, there was still time for a Medjani own goal and a Banel Nicolita free-kick to complete the rout. Thumped 6-2 at home to Nantes were the team one place below Sochaux in 19th, Valenciennes. Ariël Jacobs' side were desperate for a result but their hopes were effectively over by half-time as goals from Johan Audel, Alejandro Bedoya and Serge Gapké put Nantes firmly in control. Gapke's second made it 4-0 early in the second half, and although Carl Medjani and Jean-Christophe Baheback pulled goals back late on, there was still time for a Medjani own goal and a Banel Nicolita free-kick to complete the rout.
Cheick Diabate scored a first half hat-trick as Bordeaux claimed a 5-1 win over Guingamp. Diabate fired the home side to a 3-0 lead in the 25th minute before Moustapha Diallo clawed one back for struggling Guingamp just before the half-hour mark. However, a further score by Jussie and Diego Rolan's penalty wrapped up a comprehensive victory for Les Girondins, while 17th-placed Guingamp are looking nervously at the bottom three. Cheick Diabaté scored a first-half hat-trick as Bordeaux claimed a 5-1 win over Guingamp. Diabaté fired the home side to a 3-0 lead in the 25th minute before Moustapha Diallo clawed one back for struggling Guingamp just before the half-hour mark. However, a further score by Jussiê and Diego Rolán's penalty wrapped up a comprehensive victory for Les Girondins, while 17th-placed Guingamp are looking nervously at the bottom three.
Elsewhere, Montpellier decided to press the self-destruct button at the Stade du Moustoir and Lorient super-sub Vincent Aboubakar gladly helped force a remarkable 4-4 draw. Remy Cabella's brace and goals from M'Baye Niang and Jean Deza saw the 2012 French champions – down to 10 men thanks to goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren's early dismissal – cruising towards victory. Montpellier needed all three points to shirk a lingering threat of relegation, but they would escape with only one as Lorient ran riot across six crazy minutes. Elsewhere, Montpellier decided to press the self-destruct button at the Stade du Moustoir and Lorient super-sub Vincent Aboubakar gladly helped force a remarkable 4-4 draw. Rémy Cabella's brace and goals from M'Baye Niang and Jean Deza saw the 2012 French champions – down to 10 men thanks to goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren's early dismissal – cruising towards victory. Montpellier needed all three points to shirk a lingering threat of relegation, but they would escape with only one as Lorient ran riot across six crazy minutes.
Jeremie Aliadiere's first-half penalty kept Lorient in sight of the unlikely draw and Kevin Monnet-Pacquet halved the deficit on 87 minutes before Aboubakar plundered a brace from the bench. Jérémie Aliadière's first-half penalty kept Lorient in sight of the unlikely draw and Kévin Monnet-Pacquet halved the deficit on 87 minutes before Aboubakar plundered a brace from the bench.
In the late game, Marseille and Lille played out a goalless draw at the Stade Velodrome and remain in sixth and third place respectively. In the late game, Marseille and Lille played out a goalless draw at the Stade Vélodrome and remain in sixth and third place respectively.