PARIS (AP) - Paris Saint-Germain edged closer to the French league title on Wednesday after beating 10-man Evian 1-0 to restore its 10-point lead at the top of the standings.
France midfielder Blaise Matuidi chased a through-ball from Lucas Moura to score with a sliding effort in the 89th minute.
“Winning the league title is always tough, we have to go and get it,” Matuidi told Canal Plus television. “We’re having a very good season. But it’s always difficult to play teams that are fighting for their survival at the end of the season. Evian gave everything.”
With four rounds left and a commanding lead over second-place Monaco, PSG can clinch the league title on Sunday with a victory over Sochaux.
Meanwhile, Lyon stayed in the race for a European spot with a 0-0 draw at Toulouse. Lyon sits in fifth place, two points behind Saint-Etienne.
Both matches were rescheduled because of Saturday’s French League Cup final in which PSG beat Lyon 2-1.
PSG’s first chance came in the 22nd minute when Marco Verratti played Ezequiel Lavezzi in. But goalkeeper Jesper Hansen denied the Argentina winger.
The hosts put more pressure on Evian after the break. Adrien Rabiot cut the ball back to Lavezzi, who flicked wide from close range in the 57th.
Evian was down to 10 men in the 61st when right back Kassim Abdallah received a second yellow card for a foul on Lucas Digne.
PSG capitalized on its numerical advantage to create more chances. Hansen tipped over the bar a curling shot from Lavezzi in the 67th, while Matuidi fired wide from 12 yards (meters) in the 81st before scoring the winner soon after.
In Toulouse, the hosts were unlucky to drop two points as forwards Wissam Ben Yedder and Martin Braithwaite hit the post in the second half.
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