PARIS, April 6 (Reuters) – Paris St Germain’s Jeremy Menez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck second-half goals to secure a 2-0 win at Stade Rennes as their understrength side restored a seven-point lead in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Menez, who has lost his starting role this season, fired home in the 57th minute before league top scorer Ibrahimovic struck his 26th of the season in added time as PSG get ready to visit Barcelona in the Champions league on Wednesday.

PARIS (Reuters) – Olympique Marseille and Joey Barton have apologised to Thiago Silva and Paris St Germain after the English midfielder called the Brazilian an “overweight ladyboy”.

“Olympique Marseille and Joey Barton wish to apologise to Thiago Silva and his club for the inappropriate comments the English player made on social media in the past 36 hours”, OM said in a statement on their website (www.om.net).

PARIS, April 4 (Reuters) – Olympique Marseille and Joey Barton have apologised to Thiago Silva and Paris St Germain after the English midfielder called the Brazilian an “overweight ladyboy”.

“Olympique Marseille and Joey Barton wish to apologise to Thiago Silva and his club for the inappropriate comments the English player made on social media in the past 36 hours”, OM said in a statement on their website (www.om.net).

PARIS (Reuters) – Lille began the Ligue 1 season sluggishly but once again they have built up momentum and are fifth in the table ready for a final sprint to a European spot.

The Northerners, who take on Lorient on Sunday (8.00 p.m. British time), were 15th in the standings after seven rounds of matches but with eight games to play they trail fourth-placed St Etienne, who occupy the Europa League qualifying spot, by one point.

PARIS (Reuters) – Lille began the Ligue 1 season sluggishly but once again they have built up momentum and are fifth in the table ready for a final sprint to a European spot.

The Northerners, who take on Lorient on Sunday (1900 GMT), were 15th in the standings after seven rounds of matches but with eight games to play they trail fourth-placed St Etienne, who occupy the Europa League qualifying spot, by one point.

PARIS, April 4 (Reuters) – Lille began the Ligue 1 season sluggishly but once again they have built up momentum and are fifth in the table ready for a final sprint to a European spot.

The Northerners, who take on Lorient on Sunday (1900 GMT), were 15th in the standings after seven rounds of matches but with eight games to play they trail fourth-placed St Etienne, who occupy the Europa League qualifying spot, by one point.

PARIS (Reuters) – Paris St Germain have a midfield conundrum to solve if they are to stand a chance of reaching the Champions League last four on the back of a thrilling 2-2 home draw against Barcelona in Tuesday’s first leg.

At the Parc des Princes, holding midfielder Blaise Matuidi was once again PSG’s dynamo while David Beckham, a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up, brought composure in a frantic first half.

PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) – Paris St Germain have a midfield conundrum to solve if they are to stand a chance of reaching the Champions League last four on the back of a thrilling 2-2 home draw against Barcelona in Tuesday’s first leg.

At the Parc des Princes, holding midfielder Blaise Matuidi was once again PSG’s dynamo while David Beckham, a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up, brought composure in a frantic first half.

PARIS, April 2 (Reuters) – Barcelona stayed on track for a sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final appearance despite conceding a last-gasp goal by Blaise Matuidi in a pulsating 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

The 2009 and 2011 champions went in front seven minutes before halftime when Dani Alves produced an exquisite pass with the outside of his right boot straight into the path of Lionel Messi who drove the ball in with his left foot from an acute angle.

PARIS, April 2 (Reuters) – Paris St Germain must keep up a high tempo for the whole of their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Barcelona to have a chance of reaching the last four, coach Carlo Ancelotti said after a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.

“Tonight’s game was pretty clear to me. Against Barcelona you have to defend because they dominate possession but when you have the ball you need to make the most of it,” he told a news conference after his team salvaged a last-gasp draw in Paris.