PARIS – Memphis Depay scored and created the equalizer as Lyon drew 2-2 at Rennes to stay ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed a rambling 3-0 home win over Brest in the French league on Saturday.

Rennes were coasting at 2-0 when Dutch striker Depay dropped a pass and flew home superbly in the 78th. Three minutes later, he caught center-back Jason Denayer with a precise cross.

Lyon extended their unbeaten game to 16 games and were one point ahead of defending champions PSG and Lille after 19 of 38 games.

Lille won at lower Nimes 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from robust Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz and he trailed PSG on the goal difference.

At the Parc des Princes, new PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino was again without Neymar, who is treating an ankle injury suffered just before the winter break.

PSG took a somewhat fortuitous lead when a header from captain Marquinhos hit the post and the stray ball landed right at the feet of Moise Kean for an easy goal in the 15th.

The modest mid-table Brest cut three times PSG in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but failed to make a shot on target to test goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

After Kylian Mbappe – the second-most expensive player in history with € 180m ($ 220m) behind Neymar – slashed the odds, substitutes Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarrabia added sparkle to a little display. convincing with goals in the last 10 minutes.

“The result is a bit tough,” said Brest midfielder Faivre. “We know what great teams can do, it only takes a swipe for them to punish you.”

In Brittany, Karl Toko Ekambi recovered from the coronavirus and returned to the Lyon three-way attack alongside Depay and Tino Kadewere.

But it was two former Lyon players who combined to give Rennes the lead midway through the first half, as winger Martin Terrier placed former French midfielder Clement Grenier just inside. the penalty area. Grenier was involved in the second goal, scored by Benjamin Bourigeaud in the 54th.

Depay then came to the fore.

OTHER GAMES

Monaco moved up to fourth after beating Angers 3-0, and fifth-placed Rennes were one point ahead of sixth-placed Marseille, who drew relegation batsman Dijon 0-0 with playmaker Dimitri Payet, surprisingly left on the bench despite a goal in midweek. .

It was also: Lens 0, Strasbourg 1; Reims 3, Saint-Étienne 1; Bordeaux 2, Lorient 1; Metz 1, Nice 1 and Montpellier 1, Nantes 1.

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