PARIS: Paris St Germain returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win at Rennes after Achraf Hakimi scored one goal and created another on Sunday to help the capital club move up to third in Ligue 1 two points off the pace set by AS Monaco.

PSG missed out on top spot last weekend when they were held to a goalless draw at Clermont Foot before they were humbled 4-1 away to Newcastle United in the Champions League, but they showed no sign of a hangover from their midweek loss.

PSG went ahead after 32 minutes with Vitinha’s brilliant arcing strike into the top corner and it was 2-0 four minutes later when Warren Zaire-Emery crossed for an unmarked Hakimi to head in.

Amine Gouiri headed home from close range to get Rennes back into the match in the 56th minute, but PSG scored again two minutes later as Hakimi’s low delivery was converted at the near post by substitute Randal Kolo Muani.

Earlier, the match between Montpellier and Clermont was abandoned in stoppage time after the visitors’ keeper was targeted by a firecracker.

Clermont’s Mory Diaw fell to the ground when the firecracker, thrown from the Etang de Thau tribune where Montpellier fans sit, exploded next to him, before being carried off on a stretcher.

Referee Florent Batta sent the players to the dressing- room before deciding not to resume the game which Montpellier were leading 4-2.

Olympique de Marseille claimed their first win under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, beating Le Havre 3-0 courtesy of an own goal as well as strikes by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ismaila Sarr.

Lens came back to draw 1-1 at home to Lille.

Olympique Lyonnais are still without a win this season after squandering a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Lorient.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2023