PARIS: Tiemoue Bakayoko struck late to boost 10-man Monaco’s hopes of Champions League football next season with the only goal of their dour 1-0 Riveria derby win against Nice on Saturday.

Despite being a clash between the second and third placed Ligue 1 teams it failed to ignite the Stade Louis II and had looked to be heading for a goalless draw before Bakayoko struck after 81 minutes.

A long free-kick off the boot of Portuguese midfielder Moutinho found Bakayoko who slotted in after the ball had bounced in front of Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale.

The win allows Monaco, second behind runaway Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, to move six points clear of Nice.

Nice would have overtaken Monaco on goal difference if it had won the French Riviera derby, but failed to take advantage after Monaco midfielder Nabil Dirar was sent off in the 47th minute after picking two yellow cards in quick succession.

Instead, the red card inspired Monaco, who remain a massive 21 points behind PSG, who play at bitter rivals Olympique Marseille on Sunday.

CHRISTENSEN DOUBLE HELPS GLADBACH END LOSING STREAK

BERLIN: Danish defender Andreas Christensen scored twice as Borussia Moenchengladbach ended their two-match losing streak with a 5-1 rout of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Gladbach started the year fourth in the table, but defeats at home to Borussia Dortmund and away to Mainz 05 saw Andre Schubert’s side drop to sixth and in danger of slipping out of the European places.

But with 32 points, Gladbach reclaimed fourth spot, provisionally one point ahead of Bayern Leverkusen and two points behind third-placed Hertha Berlin.

Lars Stindl opened for the hosts after 12 minutes with 19-year-old Christensen scoring his first Bundesliga goals since his arrival last summer from Chelsea on 31 and 50 minutes.

Claudio Pizarro pulled one back with a penalty six minutes later and Bremen put the home side under pressure.

Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer prevented Fin Bartels from making it 3-2 in the 65th, and Nico Elvedi then made a crucial clearance to deny Pizarro from the rebound.

Any hopes the visitors had of a comeback were dashed with 20 minutes to go when Raffael converted another penalty before Havard Nordtveit completed the scoring with a fine strike from distance in the 88th.

MALAGA DOWN GETAFE

MADRID: Venezuela midfielder Juan Anor scored a goal and was involved in another as Malaga beat Getafe 3-0 in La Liga on Friday.

Anor scored in the ninth minute when he skillfully dribbled past three Getafe players before sending a low shot inside the far post past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

The 22-year-old Anor later threaded a superb pass to an onside Charles for the Brazilian forward to then cross the ball to unmarked Ghana midfielder Christian Atsu who doubled Malaga’s tally in the 24th.

Charles emphasized Malaga’s first-half superiority when he scored his ninth league goal this season in the 43rd by stabbing a right-footed shot past a stranded Guaita.

Malaga are 10th in the standings on 30 points after 23 rounds, four ahead of 11th-placed Getafe.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2016