Paris Saint-Germain is closing in on its first Ligue 1 title in close to 20 years after a 3-0 win against Nice restored the super-rich club’s nine-point lead over second-place Marseille. Withjust five games remaining, PSG needs just six points to ensure its first French league title since 1994.
Jeremy Menez put the home team into the lead with a tap-in from aJavier Pastore chip after 10 minutes. Halfway through the second half, Nice goalkeeper David Ospina was sent-off for hauling down Ezequiel Lavezzi inthe penalty area. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ligue 1’s top scorer with 27 goals, scored the resulting penalty to make it 2-0. Two minutes from time, substitute ClementChantome rounded off the win following a fine move involving Ibrahimovic and Blaise Matuidi.
”This match was very important because keeping a nine-point leadmeans the title is getting closer,” PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti said, adding that his team had played much better than the disappointing French Cup Quarterfinal loss to Evian ThononGaillard on penalties last week. ”It’s very easy to find the motivation because the title is very close,” Ancelotti said. ”It’s very important for everybody at this club to win this season after a19-year drought. We’re very close… Everybody is very focused.’”