Ancelotti's Lille keep pace with PSG

PARIS: Lille beat Rennes 2-1 away on Sunday to climb second in Ligue 1 just two points behind European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1 table.

Coached by Davide Ancelotti, Lille go into the international break with 21 points from 10 games one ahead of Paris FC in third.

Italian Ancelotti, son of coaching great Carlo Ancelotti, took over at Lille in June after they finished third, and has hit the ground running domestically despite being thumped by Arsenal and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Lille opened the scores with a thumping shot from 19-year-old striker Soriba Diaoune on the edge of the box on 24 minutes, and after Rennes levelled, Nathan Ngoy's stinging winner for Lille came from a defensive error after 68 minutes.

Turkish goalkeeper Berke Ozer has conceded just seven goals and the giant Lille stopper will play for his country when they take on France in Bordeaux on November 15.

"His desire for success can decide things," Ancelotti said of 26-year-old Ozer.

Having lost 5-2 at Nice last week Rennes slump to eighth on 16 points after impressing in early season.

Another early frontrunner Lyon lost 2-0 at Brest in the week they said an emotional goodbye to their coach Paulo Fonseca who joined his boyhood club Sporting Lisbon.

Elsewhere Le Mans drew 1-1 with Monaco and rock-bottom Le Havre were beaten 2-0 at home and prop up the table on just two points.

In a clash between two of the best supported clubs in France, Marseille grabbed a 2-1 away win at Lens and climbed to fourth on 18pts with a fifth straight league victory.

Illia Zabarnyi scored the only goal of the game as a weakened Paris Saint-Germain claimed an unspectacular 1-0 win over Troyes on Saturday to make it 11 consecutive victories in all competitions.--AFP