Saint-Etienne too strong for Bastia

Saint-Etienne have maintained their chances of finishing in the top four in Ligue 1 with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bastia at home.

The hosts were in control of the match right from the start and could have taken the lead in the very first minute had Mickael Landreau not kept out Brandao's attempt from close range.

Brandao, though, made his second chance of the game count on 10 minutes when he shot home from close range after finding himself with a loose ball from a corner.

Moments later the 32-year-old could have made it 2-0 to Saint-Etienne when he sent through by Fabien Lemoine, but saw his shot come off the post.

The hosts maintained their domination at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as the first half progressed, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Yohan Mollo both going close before the break.

Renaud Cohade saw his shot from outside the Bastia penalty box turned away by Landreau at the start of the second half, and Brando headed high just after the hour mark.

Saint-Etienne ascertained the win with 11 minutes of normal time remaining, Aubameyang latching on to Josua Guilavogui's through-ball to slot home from close range.

Guilavogui himself got on the scoresheet in the 85th minute when set up by Aubameyang, he fired in from outside the box to the bottom-right corner.