PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier wants his side to create some “distance” between themselves and their rivals at the top of Ligue 1 when they face Ajaccio, and Galtier’s son Jordan, on Friday.
The reigning champions opened up a three-point lead at the summit last weekend with a tense 1-0 victory over Marseille, who have slipped from second in the table to fourth after back-to-back defeats in the last fortnight.
Igor Tudor’s OM face a tough task to bounce back, though, hosting third-placed Lens on Saturday.
Surprise package Lorient, who sit second, could be six points behind PSG by the time they visit Troyes.
“We’re top of the league, and there are some top-of-the-table clashes this weekend, so it’s up to us to put in a complete performance and keep the chasing pack at a distance,” said Galtier.
PSG will be hoping to race away with the title again this season after finishing 15 points clear of Marseille last term, giving them space to focus on their latest bid for a maiden Champions League crown.
The capital giants can secure their place in the last 16 in Europe on Tuesday with victory over Maccabi Haifa at the Parc des Princes.
But first they must overcome an Ajaccio side who have claimed seven points from their last four matches, featuring a shock 2-1 win over Marseille, after mustering just one point in their opening seven games.
“They’re coming off the back of some good performances,” said Galtier, whose son is the Ajaccio assistant coach.
“The start to the season was a bit difficult for them because you always have to get used to playing in Ligue 1.
“The stadium will be full, and there’ll be a fiery atmosphere because the fans are close to the pitch.
“We’ll need to turn up, show a lot of desire and not look too far ahead to Tuesday’s game against Haifa.”
Neymar continued his brilliant start to the season with the winning goal against Marseille. The Brazilian has already scored 12 goals this term but is suspended for the trip to Ajaccio, along with Sergio Ramos.
The Burkina Faso international has been a vital player in Lorient’s remarkable start, scoring four goals and creating four others in his 10 appearances.
Lorient’s six-match winning streak came to an end last weekend with a goalless draw against Reims and they will be without leading scorer Terem Moffi due to an ankle injury.
They will be hoping the 20-year-old Ouattara can step up in Moffi’s absence and continue his rise after only making seven league starts last campaign.
14 — times Lionel Messi has struck the woodwork in Ligue 1 since joining PSG, four more times than any other player.
5 — league goals conceded by PSG, three fewer than any other team. Ajaccio are the lowest scorers in the division with only eight goals.
1 — points won by Lyon in their past six matches. Former PSG boss Laurent Blanc tasted defeat in his first match in charge with a 3-2 loss at Rennes last week.
PSG bidding to create ‘distance’ from Ligue 1 rivals at top
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PSG bidding to create ‘distance’ from Ligue 1 rivals at top
- The reigning champions opened up a three-point lead at the summit last weekend with a tense 1-0 victory over Marseille
- Igor Tudor's OM face a tough task to bounce back, though, hosting third-placed Lens on Saturday
Pineau leads by 1 as Vecchi Fossa stars at Hilton Classic in Tangier
- Leaders hit a 2-under-par 70 in what proved arguably the most challenging conditions of the MENA Golf Tour season so far
TANGIER: France’s Pierre Pineau holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Hilton Classic at Al-Houara Golf Club in Tangier after battling to a two-under-par 70 in arguably the most challenging conditions of the MENA Golf Tour season so far.
Italy’s Jacopo Vecchi Fossa produced a stunning six-under 66 to storm into contention despite the torrential afternoon rain.
Pineau, who began the day on three-under par, made four birdies against two bogeys to move to five under overall and head a congested leaderboard.
He navigated the morning conditions well enough, reaching the turn one-under for his round, before digging deep on the back nine as the weather deteriorated sharply.
“On the back nine I just fought as hard as I could,” Pineau said. “The rain was not so much about distance, it was more about the ball sliding on the face on chips and wedges. I have played in tough, changing weather before so I felt comfortable adapting.”
“It would mean a lot to win because I have struggled over the last 12 months, so it would be a big boost of confidence,” he added. “After today my confidence is in a good place.”
Three players share second place on four-under par. England’s Curtis Knipes carded a composed 71, making birdies at the ninth, 13th and 15th to offset bogeys at the first and 17th and maintain his challenge.
Pakistan’s Aadam Syed also signed for a 71, his four birdies countered by three dropped shots in a battling round he described as a constant test of patience.
“It was a real battle out there today,” Syed said. “Yesterday was windy but it eased over the last six holes and you could start firing at flags. Today it was constant all day, so patience was key.”
Syed, who had his father on the bag, is chasing a first title. “To win on the MENA Golf Tour would mean a great deal,” he said. “I have not won as a professional yet, so to tick that off would be huge and would confirm to myself that I am good enough.”
The third member of the second-place trio was the story of the day. Fossa, who started on the first tee, produced a flawless six-under 66, featuring four birdies and an eagle at the 10th, all without a bogey despite the increasingly brutal afternoon conditions.
“Honestly, I don’t really know how I did it,” Vecchi Fossa said. “On the back nine it was rain and wind the whole way and I was hitting hybrid and three wood into par fours straight into the wind. It was crazy out there.
“The hardest part was gripping the club with so much water, but I managed to hit a lot of fairways and the putts went in, which made the difference.”
France’s Andoni Etchenique and overnight leader Aron Zemmer, who slipped back with a two-over 74, share fifth place on three-under par.
Ireland’s Alex Maguire, the round one co-leader, dropped two shots to sit at two under with New Zealand’s Luke Kidd and Ireland’s Paul McBride in a tie for seventh.
Ayoub Lguirati remains the highest-placed Moroccan heading into the final round, the home favorite signing for a 74 to sit on two-over par in a share of 20th place, with compatriots Ayoub Ssouadi and Issam Nakrou also making the cut.
The final round of the Hilton Classic gets underway on Wednesday, with the $100,000 prize fund and Official World Golf Ranking points on the line.
