Promoted Strasbourg stun PSG, Monaco back to winning ways in Ligue 1

Newly-promoted side Strasbourg handed the first defeat in seven months to Ligue 1 bellwether Paris Saint-Germain 2-1.

In another match defending champions Monaco shrugged off recent lacklustre performances with a 1-0 home win against Angers on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency.

PSG's last defeat was on April 30, when they lost at Nice 3-1 in the league.

Underdog Strasbourg got off to a good start, as Nuno Da Costa was left unmarked to head a free-kick from Dimitri Lienard in the 13th minute.

Three minutes before the half time whistle, Kylian Mabappe who took Edinson Cavani's position as a central forward helped Paris score the equaliser.

Midfielder Javier Pastore was close to moving PSG ahead later, but his shot hit the post-bar. PSG missed several chances for an advantage early in the second half.

In the 65th minute, Stephane cut into the box and gave Strasbourg the lead after receiving Da Costa's pass. The 2-1 score was kept to the end.

PSG still sit atop the table, but their advantage over the second-ranked sides has been cut from ten points to nine.

Meanwhile, Monaco lost their last two league outings but faced up well in the match against Angers.

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao contributed the only goal of the match to Monaco in the second minute, helping his team move up to the second place in the standings.

Nice, also last season's top three finishers, were four points clear of the relegation zone in the 12th position after beating Metz 3-1 at home.

Nice forward Alassane Plea found the net in the 27th minute, but Nolan Roux quickly restored parity for Metz.

Nice regained the upper hand in the second half, as Italian striker Mario Balotelli netted his eighth league goal this season, and Allan Saint-Maximin's goal in the 71st minute secured the victory for Nice.

--IANS

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