PSG hit four to reclaim top spot

Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table after overwhelming third-bottom Ajaccio 4-1 at a rain-soaked Parc des Princes. Montpellier had conceded the initiative in the title race after being held to a draw at Dijon yesterday, and PSG took full advantage by beating Ajaccio through goals from Javier Pastore, Jeremy Menez, Guillaume Hoarau and Nene. Having rescued a thrilling 4-4 draw at Lyon last weekend, Carlo Ancelotti's side have now gone 15 games unbeaten and are a point clear of Montpellier with 12 games of the season remaining. Ajaccio almost took an early lead in fortuitous fashion when Samuel Bohours' cross was deflected onto the crossbar by Christophe Jallet, but a pair of quickfire goals midway through the first half gave PSG control of the game. Nene hit the post with a 25-yard curler and Hoarau stung the palms of Ajaccio goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa before Pastore broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, driving the ball past Ochoa following a neat one-two with Blaise Matuidi. Menez adds to PSG lead PSG doubled their lead less than two minutes later and this time Pastore was the provider, spreading the ball to his left for Menez, who stepped inside his man and curled a fine shot into the top-right corner. After spurning a handful of chances to extend their lead, PSG saw Ajaccio pull a goal back shortly before the interval when Yoann Poulard lashed a loose ball home after the hosts failed to clear a free-kick. With Ancelotti peering through the rain on the touchline, PSG struggled to finish the game off in the second half, with Nene rattling the crossbar from a free-kick and both Nene and Hoarau drawing saves from Ochoa. Hoarau finally made the game safe in the 86th minute, cantering onto Nene's through ball and rolling the ball past Ochoa, before Nene touched home Clement Chantome's volleyed cross from close range to claim a deserved goal in stoppage time.