Tennis great Nadal watches Gameiro put PSG top

PARIS: Paris St Germain went to the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday after a Kevin Gameiro header clinched a hardfought 1-0 home victory over Stade Reims.

Tennis great Rafael Nadal, who received a PSG jersey from striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic before kickoff, looked on as Reims wasted a chance to go ahead in the 40th minute when Diego’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu after Gregory van der Wiel had handled.

Gameiro, who scored twice last month in the only other league game he has started this season, then headed in a neat cross by Maxwell in the 65th minute.

PSG have 19 points from nine games, ahead on goal difference from Marseille, who have a game in hand. Reims are seventh on 14 points.

“It was hard because the international break prevented us from working together,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters. “It is important to go top even if it’s only for one night.”

PSG and Marseille are three points clear of Toulouse who are third after crushing Evian 4-0.

Franck Tabanou produced a superb solo effort to give Toulouse a 24thminute lead. Emmanuel Riviere then scored either side of half-time before Daniel Braaten struck late on.

Valenciennes are fourth on 15 points after they recovered from conceding an earlygoal to destroy Lorient 6-1.

Lorient, who had Arnaud Le Lan and Innocent Emeghara sent off, are eighth in the table.

Valenciennes are tied on 15 points with Lyon and Bordeaux who drew 1-1 with Lille on Friday.

Champions Montpellier, who host Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League on Wednesday, are down in 16th place after losing 2-1 at Stade Rennes.

Jean Makoun nodded the home team in front from a Julien Feret corner in the 13th minute and striker Mevlut Erding shot past goalkeeper Laurent Pionnier to double the lead in the 52nd.

Younes Belhanda converted a penalty for Montpellier with 21 minutes left.