French Football League: PSG suffer hangover with defeat at Bordeaux

Bordeaux's Tunisian midfielder Wahbi Khazri (L) vies with Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender David Luiz (R) during the French L1 football match between Bordeaux (FCGB) and Paris (PSG) on March 15, 2015 at the Chaban-Delmas stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France. AFP PHOTO

Paris Saint-Germain suffered a Champions League hangover on Sunday as sloppy defending cost them a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Bordeaux and also dented the defence of their Ligue 1 crown.

PSG, who gave the French capital a boost with their dramatic Champions League last-16 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday, came back down to earth with a thud following a disjointed display at the Chaban-Delmas stadium in the south-west.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had equalised twice for Laurent Blanc's side, who remain in the hunt for four trophies, but Diego Rolan popped up in the 89th minute to steer the ball home when the central defence collapsed.

"We had tired legs today and it was difficult to play just three days after the Chelsea match," explained PSG midfielder Marco Verratti.

"We were struggling for energy and really felt it in the legs," added the Italian.

It is only the third defeat of the season for PSG who remain one point behind leaders Lyon who are in action later on Sunday in the final match of the weekend at third-placed Marseille.

Bordeaux took the lead during a first-half in which they controlled the tempo and went ahead from a corner on 18 minutes.

Senegalese international Lamine Sane rose highest to meet a cross into the heart of the area and sent a glancing header past the despairing dive of PSG's Italian 'keeper Salvatore Sirigu.

There was more concern for Blanc and his defending champions when star defender David Luiz pulled up lame clutching his hamstring and came off immediately just before half-time.

Ibrahimovic then poached his 13th league goal of the season following a goalkeeping howler from Cedric Carasso five minutes after the break.

The Sweden captain, who was shown a controversial straight red card against Chelsea, used his striking instincts to flick the ball past Carasso after the 'keeper and Portuguese defender Thiago Ilori made a botched job of clearing a bouncing ball in the box.

Former Newcastle midfielder Yoann Cabaye then became the next injury casualty for Blanc when he went off injured just minutes after coming on as a substitute before Bordeaux took the lead for the second time.

Wahbi Khazri found himself completely unmarked inside the area and was able to place his header past the helpless Sirigu with 20 minutes left.

Ibrahimovic equalised again with a penalty with five minutes left as the match appeared heading for a draw but Rolan became Bordeaux's hero with his last-gasp winner.

Earlier on Sunday, Belgian teenager Divock Origi, who hadn't scored for six months, helped himself to a hat-trick in Lille's 3-0 mauling of Rennes.

The win lifts Rene Girard's side up to eighth place while Rennes slip into the lower half of the table.

On Saturday, Saint-Etienne kept up their bid for European football next season and added to relegation fears for Metz with a 3-2 victory in northeastern France.

At Lens, the 1998 French champions gave themselves a glimmer of hope of staying in Ligue 1 with a vital 1-0 home win over Toulouse.

Brittany club Lorient also picked up three crucial points to move five points above Toulouse and the final relegation spot with a 2-1 win over Caen.

Finally, Montpellier climbed back into European contention with a 3-1 home win over Reims.

By AFP 3 hrs ago
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