Paris Saint-German moved to within one point of Ligue 1 leaders Lyon courtesy of a 1-0 win over Rennes at Parc des Princes this evening.
Ezequiel Lavezzi's 29th-minute strike was all that was needed for the champions to close the gap at the top of the table and extend their unbeaten home record.
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The Argentine's goal was the single shot on target of an uneventful first half and came on PSG's only notable forward venture before the break.
Javier Pastore picked out his compatriot to lash into the top corner from eight yards as Lavezzi marked his recall to the side with his third of the season.
Rennes had done most of the early running and yet too struggled to create chances. Fallou Diagne's long-range sighter whistled wide, while Lucas Digne blocked another effort from distance by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Their best chance of an equaliser fell to seven-goal top scorer Paul-Georges Ntep, who collected a loose ball to spin and shoot off target from the edge of the box as Salvatore Sirigu remained untroubled.
The Parisians went in search of a second after the break, and it was Pastore who seemed the most likely to create something.
He shot wide from a narrow angle either side of supplying Edinson Cavani with two chances, the first of which saw Benoit Costil deny him from the edge of the box and the second of which was miscued wide from six yards.
Rennes lacked the same guile that Pastore was providing for the hosts and fashioned only one notable opportunity to equalise, with substitute Christian Bruls bending a shot towards the top corner which Sirigu palmed away.
PSG have now won three games in a row since being shocked by Bastia. The visitors remain 10th in the table and are winless in seven matches.
Joe Fish
