A Kevin Gameiro triple gave Paris Saint-Germain a 3-1 win at Ajaccio on Sunday that enabled the big-spending club from the capital to restore their three-point lead at the top of Ligue 1.
The France striker broke the deadlock in the second minute at Stade Francois Coty on the island of Corsica, volleying home from close range after Nene's right-wing corner was flicked on at the near post by Sylvain Armand.
The hosts have won just once all season since returning to the top flight but they drew level in the 24th minute through Carl Medjani after PSG failed to clear their lines following a free-kick.
PSG were grateful for the positioning of Nene 11 minutes before the break, the Brazilian forward heading a Richard Socrier header off his own goal-line from right underneath the crossbar.
Socrier also tested goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu with a dipping volley early in the second half, before a quick-fire pair of goals by Gameiro took the game beyond Ajaccio.
In the 50th minute he slammed home from close range after Mohamed Sissoko had headed down Christophe Jallet's high cross.
Clement Chantome was the provider three minutes later, skipping around goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and squaring for Gameiro to complete his hat-trick and take his tally for the season to a league-high eight.
It was PSG's fourth consecutive league victory and allowed Antoine Kombouare's side to re-assert control of the title race after 10 games.
Ajaccio slipped to second-bottom and were leapfrogged by Valenciennes, who climbed out of the bottom three after 19-year-old Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar netted twice in a 3-0 defeat of Sochaux.
Lyon, beaten 2-0 at PSG in their previous outing, are now three points behind their title rivals in third place after the in-form Michel Bastos claimed a brace to inspire his side to a 3-1 win at home to Nancy on Saturday.
Montpellier are second, above Lyon on goal difference, having come from 2-0 down to beat Dijon 5-3 at Stade de la Mosson.
Striker Olivier Giroud claimed a second-half hat-trick for the hosts -- the first of his Ligue 1 career -- to leave him one goal behind Gameiro at the top of the scoring charts.
Defending champions Lille -- who host Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday -- finished the weekend a point further back in fourth, after rallying from 1-0 down at half-time to win 3-1 at Auxerre.
Marseille's miseries continued, however. The 2010 champions were held to a 0-0 draw at Toulouse -- their sixth stalemate of the season -- and sit 15th, just a point above the relegation places.
Sunday's late game pits together two teams bidding for European qualification, with seventh-placed Rennes hosting Lorient, the team immediately above them in the table.
Source: AFP
