PSG presses for Champions League spot with 1-0 victory over Le Mans

The battle for a Champions League spot wages on as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Le Mans 1-0 in a match that seemed to lack a cutting edge in spirit. For the Parisians, with the peculiar decision to not renew manager Paul Le Guen's contract already weighing down the balance of the campaign and many questioning the future Claude Makélélé and Ludovic Giuly, a bit of lustre has been scuffed off as no doubt there are considerable changes in the horizon. That aside the victory eases les Rouge et Bleu to within a point of Lyonnais in fourth place with three matches remaining in the campaign.

In complete control of the match PSG took the lead as Mateja Kežman, in the starting eleven with Guillaume Hoarau and Ludovic Giuly both out injured, scored the matches only goal fourteen minutes in. With a uptempo charge down the right flank Stéphane Sessegnon fired a low cross near the edge of the six-yard box that the Serbian striker sent in. For the remainder of the half the Parisians controlled the general run of play but Le Mans demonstrated a high work-rate in defending and broke-up a number of quality chances. After the restart the momentum slowly shifted with both sides probing for the next goal. Clear attempts were squandered by PSG and it was up to Mickaël Landreau to save the day in route to a 1-0 victory.