PARIS: Brest are Ligue 1’s surprise package this season and they strengthened their grip on third place in the table by overturning a two-goal deficit against leaders Paris St Germain in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

They now have 35 points and closed the gap on second-placed Nice to three points.

Brest, who returned to the top flight in 2019, have gone 10 games unbeaten in all competitions and are edging towards a maiden European competition berth. They will also have their eyes on securing the club’s best league finish, improving on the 1986-87 season when they finished eighth.

PSG missed the chance to extend their lead with Luis Enrique’s side, who finished with 10 men after Bradley Barcola was sent off in stoppage time, top with 44 points, six clear of second-placed Nice.

Marco Asensio, making his first league start since September, volleyed PSG ahead at the Parc des Princes late in the first half before Randal Kolo Muani tapped in a second for the hosts before the break.

An own goal by Danilo on 55 minutes offered Brest a way back into the match and Mathias Pereira Lage put an end to the visitors’ run of 14 successive defeats by PSG with a clever back-heel flick to equalise.

Ghana’s Andre Ayew scored twice on his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, popping up with a stoppage-time equaliser for Le Havre in a 3-3 draw at bottom side Lorient.

Lens won 2-0 at Toulouse while Clermont against Strasbourg ended 1-1.

Tino Kadewere missed a penalty for Nantes in a 0-0 draw at Reims, while Montpellier were held at home by 10-man Lille in another goalless stalemate.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2024