Edinson Cavani brace rescues PSG in 2-2 draw with leaders Nice

“What I regret is the two goals we conceded, they were too easy,” Nice coach Lucien Favre said on Canal Plus television. “That joke goal was not possible.”

The draw leaves third-placed PSG three points behind Monaco and four behind Nice after 17 games. In a measure of how well Nice is playing, its players were bitterly disappointed not to win.

“We should have played much better in the second half,” Nice’s Brazilian defender Dante said. “We should have been cleverer.”

Cavani’s goals are carrying a PSG side that is leaking them too easily.

Midfielder Wylan Cyprien’s brilliant curling free kick from 25 meters put Nice ahead in the 32nd minute, totally against the run of play.

Then, following a mix-up between Brazilian defenders Thiago Silva and Marquinhos on a cross from the left, striker Alassane Plea moved in between them to make it 2-0 in first-half injury time with his 10th league goal of the season. Marquinhos made careless mistakes in a 3-0 defeat away to Montpellier last weekend and was at fault for Ludogorets’ second goal in a 2-2 home draw in the Champions League on Tuesday.

After volleying in right back Serge Aurier’s cross one minute after the restart, Cavani then got the easiest of tap-ins on the hour mark.

Cardinale flapped weakly at left back Layvin Kurzawa’s cross, patting the ball onto the back of Dante. It fell to Cavani, one meter out.

PSG started with something to prove, with Kurzawa, Cavani and center back Thiago Silva going close inside the first 10 minutes.

Winger Angel Di Maria’s combinations with Aurier were stretching Nice’s left flank, but thanks to some outstanding cover play from Dante the visitors were holding firm.

Cavani missed a great chance in the 40th, when Marco Verratti picked him out with a great threaded pass. Although Cavani’s control was excellent as he chested the ball down, he scuffed his shot.

Nice looked vulnerable after PSG’s equalizer but still tried to win the game, with striker Mario Balotelli coming on for the last 15 minutes.

LYON 1, RENNES 0

Mathieu Valbuena is finally finding his best form for Lyon as the winger’s well-taken goal sealed a 1-0 home win.

Midfielder Rachid Ghezzal did well down the right and picked out Valbuena as he advanced from the left into the penalty area. Valbuena drilled a low shot past goalkeeper Benoit Costil in the 28th minute to score for the third league game in a row.

Lyon’s win moved it above Rennes into fourth place.

Valbuena only managed one goal in 26 games last season, when he had trouble settling in following a move from Dinamo Moscow.

On current form, the 32-year-old Frenchman may be playing well enough to stake a claim for the national team. Valbuena was a key part of the 2014 World Cup team that reached the quarterfinals and has 52 caps, but he has not played for Les Bleus since October last year.

Rennes defender Ramy Bensebaini was sent off in the 74th minute for pulling back striker Alexandre Lacazette as he was through on goal.

SAINT-ETIENNE 1, GUINGAMP 0

Although winger Romain Hamouma scored the winner for Saint-Etienne, the best performance came from its goalkeeper, Stephane Ruffier.

Hamouma finished neatly midway through the first half following some fine work from right back Kevin Malcuit.

Ruffier, who has played more than 200 league games for Les Verts, then made excellent saves.

Saint-Etienne’s win moved it up to eighth place, just behind sixth-placed Guingamp.