Horeau on the spot as PSG stay in French mix

January 19, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Goals from starlet Guillaume Horeau and much-travelled striker Peguy Luyindula hauled Paris St Germain into the race for a Champions League spot next season with a 2-1 home win over Sochaux on Sunday which took the capital club into the top six.

PSG moved onto 36 points from 21 matches – just two points off third-placed Marseille and six behind leaders Lyon, who saw off near neighbours Grenoble on Saturday to help the serial champions reassert themselves after a run of just one win in six matches.

Bordeaux stayed close to Lyon, a solitary point behind, after another majestic showing from international midfielder Yoann Gourcuff helped Laurent Blanc’s men edge Nantes 2-1 away for a fifth consecutive victory, which included last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of PSG.

Gourcuff bagged the first goal and Marouane Chamakh sealed the points prior to Filip Djordjevic’s consolation.

Gourcuff is on loan from AC Milan, who would like him back given his current hot streak of form, despite having the temporary services of David Beckham and also – despite the best efforts of Manchester City to procure him on a bed of money – Brazilian Kaka.

The French star’s father said in midweek that Yoann would return to Italy if Milan show they have "confidence" in his abilities.

"In Bordeaux, he has the confidence of the coach. That is the essential thing," said Christian Gourcuff, who coaches modest top flight side Lorient.

"At Milan he turned in some good showings but gave the impression of not having found his rhythm.

Marseille stand third after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Le Havre, Mathieu Valbuena and Ronald Zubar on target.

Horeau scored his 12th goal of the season for PSG – only Andre-Pierre Gignac of Toulouse has more with 13 to date – from the penalty spot in first-half injury time before Czech Vaclav Sverkos volleyed Sochaux level six minutes after the restart.

Luyindula poached a close-range winner in the 63rd minute following a Jerome Rothen corner to purloin a welcome three points which cheered coach Paul Le Guen.

"We have ground to make up but we are in touch," Le Guen said.

"It was great to get the win as we had a tough time of it for ten minutes or so" following Sochaux’s equaliser.

On the debit side at PSG, officials were meeting later Sunday at the Parc des Princes at the request of main shareholder Sebastien Bazin to discuss the position of under-pressure chairman Charles Villeneuve amid media reports he wants more power to run the outfit.

Toulouse hammered Nancy 3-0 on Saturday to stay a point ahead of PSG, as are Rennes, who were out to leapfrog Marseille later Sunday with a win at Lille.

In Sunday’s other action, Caen and Monaco parted 2-2, a result leaving both clubs in the soft underbelly of mid-table.

Written by: AFP

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