Monaco lose ground on PSG

Cedric Bakambu and Joseph Lopy scored second-half goals to erase Monaco's early 2-0 lead as PSG gained important ground in the Ligue 1 title race.

Monaco fell two points behind top of the table PSG on Sunday. Patrick Hertzog / AFP

Herve Renard’s reign as manager of Sochaux began promisingly with a 2-2 draw against high-flying Monaco in Sunday’s early Ligue 1 action.

Renard, who guided Zambia to last year’s Africa Cup of Nations title, is in charge of his first ever French first division side.

And he will have been more than satisfied with this battling stalemate against the Principality side that began the weekend top of the table, but after this result end it in second place two points behind Paris Saint Germain.

Struggling Sochaux are one off the foot of the table, on six points.

Monaco were set for a win after a quickfire double from Ferreira Carrasco in the fifth and tenth minutes.

Sochaux to their credit never let up and earned a share of the spoils with second half goals from Cedric Bakambu and Joseph Loppy.

“I spoke a lot this week about the psychological aspect and after ten minutes I was thinking that was all for nothing,” said Renard.

“But in football you should never give up, and it was a great reaction against the leaders before the weekend.

“It’s only one point though and we need a lot more to stay in Ligue 1.”

Claudio Ranieri, Monaco’s coach, said: “We began really well, scoring twice but then we left our concentration in the dressing room.”

Lyon, toiling in the bottom half of the table, avoided further freefall with Jimmy Briand’s extra time equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Bordeaux. Lyon, who played with 10 men after an Alexandre Lacazette red card in the 67th minute, now sit 11th with 12 points from 10 matches. Bordeaux are hovering above relegation territory, in 15th with 11 points.

St Etienne rose to seventh wit ha 3-2 win over Lorient, as well.