Lyon level with PSG in France

PARIS (AFP) –

Lyon’s forward Anthony Reveillere (C) fights for the ball with Nice’s forward Eric Bautheac during their French L1 football match on December 22, 2012, at the Gerland stadium in Lyon. Lyon defeated Nice 3-0 on Saturday to go level with leaders Paris Saint-Germain on 38 points as Ligue 1 prepared to head into its winter hibernation.

Lyon defeated Nice 3-0 on Saturday to go level with leaders Paris Saint-Germain on 38 points as Ligue 1 prepared to head into its winter hibernation.

Lyon are in second place on goal difference while Marseille can also go to 38 points if they beat Saint-Etienne on Sunday.

Lisandro Lopez, Anthony Reveillere and a Bafetimbi Gomis penalty gave Lyon the three points.

PSG guaranteed they will go into the winter break as Ligue 1 leaders by beating 10-man Brest on Friday, the capital city club’s fourth successive win.

However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will not be getting carried away by their high-flying status — 12 months ago they also led the way at Christmas only to see Montpellier take the title in May.

“We will have a good holiday because we are top of the table,” said Ancelotti.

“It was another good performance. It wasn’t easy because of the pitch and the opponents. It confirmed that we are in a good moment.”

They were aided in their cause on Friday when Brest had Abdou Sissoko, the little brother of PSG’s Mohamed, red-carded after half an hour for a bruising tackle on Ezequiel Lavezzi.

However, it wasn’t until the second half that PSG took advantage of their numerical superiority.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring after 55 minutes with his 18th league goal of the season, finishing off a centre from Christophe Jallet.

Kevin Gameiro added the second in the 73rd minute with his fifth goal of the campaign just minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Former PSG favourite Bernard Mendy then put through his own goal in the second minute of stoppage time.