PSG beats Marseille to move level with Montpellier

PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain moved level on points with Montpellier at the top of the French league after beating bitter rival Marseille 2-1 on Sunday.

PSG, which hadn't won in three league games, took an early lead when winger Jeremy Menez scored after some poor defending from Marseille in its penalty area.

Ghana forward Andre Ayew headed in Marseille's equalizer in the 59th minute, but Brazilian defender Alex rose to nod in a corner two minutes later to give PSG a vital win.

Montpellier can move three points clear of PSG if it wins its game in hand away to Marseille on Wednesday.

Marseille's miserable slump continues, and coach Didier Deschamps' team has now lost 10 and drawn one of its past 11 matches.

At Parc des Princes, PSG took the lead in the sixth minute when Nene broke down the right and whipped in a cross. Christophe Jallet's deflected volley then fell to Menez on the edge of the penalty area, and he neatly curled the ball into the bottom right corner past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Marseille struggled to get back into the game as PSG hassled in midfield. But Ayew went close to equalizing just before halftime when his goal-bound shot was closed down.

Marseille soaked up the pressure early in the second half, but PSG hit back and Nene volleyed just side in the 52nd after running onto Menez's pass over the top of the defense.

Against the run of play, Ayew equalized when striker Loic Remy headed a cross from the left back across goal and he nodded it past goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu in the 59th.

But Marseille's joy was short-lived, with former Chelsea defender Alex heading in a corner two minutes later.

Earlier, winger Anthony Mounier scored his eighth goal of the season as Nice beat visiting Lorient 2-0 to ease its relegation worries.

Mounier scored just after halftime and defender Renato Civelli got the second in the 57th minute as Nice moved up to 13th place.

Lorient's chances of making a comeback were all but over after midfielder Alaixys Romoa was sent off in the 78th.

Caen also secured an important win, beating Bordeaux 1-0 at home thanks to veteran midfielder Nicolas Seube's early goal to move out of the relegation zone. Lorient slipped below Nice and Caen and into the bottom three.