PSG, Rennes climb, Saint-Etienne woes continue

Paris Saint-Germain put their off-pitch problems to one side to record a 3-0 victory over second-bottom Boulogne at a deserted Parc des Princes stadium here on Saturday.

The capital side have been made to play three matches behind closed doors after one of their fans died following clashes between rival PSG supporters last month, while the team have endured a disappointing season on the pitch.

The hosts took a 2-0 lead into the break after an Antony Lecointe own goal and a Guillaume Hoarau penalty, while Boulogne had Bakary Soumare sent off in the 28th minute for a last-man foul on Hoarau.

Mateja Kezman scored his first goal of the season nine minutes from time to round off a win that lifts PSG to 11th.

“I hope it’s the last match behind closed doors we have to play,” said PSG coach Antoine Kombouare.

“We can’t get used to it, it’s horrible. We want to get our great atmosphere back, the feeling with the supporters, the joy.”

Saint-Etienne remain 17th, six points above the relegation zone, after the 10-time champions lost 4-0 at Lorient, having been knocked out of the French Cup in mid-week by Lens.

“It’s a huge disappointment, almost a slap in the face,” said Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier.

“We came with high hopes but Lorient made us pay with interest after the French Cup.”

Rennes closed the gap on the top six to two points after Jimmy Briand’s second-half brace brought them a 3-1 win at second-bottom Le Mans, while Issiar Dia netted a hat-trick as Nancy thrashed Lens 5-1.

Nice, meanwhile, moved 12 points clear of the bottom three with a 2-0 win at Toulouse, who had Fode Mansare sent off for a bad foul on Chaouki Ben Saada, who had to be taken to hospital with what appeared to be a serious left ankle injury.

Second-placed Montpellier travel to Lille in Sunday’s late game, seeking a victory that would take them three points clear at the top of the table.

Current leaders Bordeaux lost 3-1 to Marseille in Saturday’s League Cup final, as the Mediterranean giants won their first trophy in 17 years.

Lyon set themselves up for the visit of Bordeaux in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday by beating bottom club Grenoble 2-0 on Saturday.