PARIS — Striker Wissam Ben Yedder came off the bench to score twice as Monaco beat last-place Dijon 3-0 to strengthen its grip on third place in the French league on Sunday.
In the late game, fourth-place Lyon has to beat visiting Angers to stay one point behind Monaco in the chase for third and a slot in the Champions League qualifying rounds.
While coach Niko Kovac’s consistent Monaco has lost once in the past 20 games overall, Dijon endured a 13th straight defeat and looks doomed to relegation.
Following a dour first half, Kovac brought on Ben Yedder and he was soon tripped for a penalty in the 48th minute. Ben Yedder’s spot kick was saved but forward Stevan Jovetic followed up to finish from close range.
Ben Yedder netted in the 62nd when Dijon failed to clear the ball properly and Aleksandr Golovin sent him through on goal. He then added a late penalty to make it 3-0 and reach 17 league goals. Only Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe has more with 21.
OTHER MATCHES
Fifth-place Lens had five players out with coronavirus for the home game against Lorient, but still won 4-1.
Time is running out for Nantes, which won the last of its eight league titles 20 years ago but is languishing in 19th after losing 1-0 at Rennes.
Winger Martin Terrier netted early in the second half for seventh-place Rennes with a superb curling shot into the top right corner from the left of the penalty area.
With six games left, Rennes is one point behind sixth-place Marseille but still four points behind Lens in the chase for fifth and a Europa League spot.
Saint-Etienne is closer to midtable after beating Bordeaux 4-1.
Playing against his former club, Saint-Etienne winger Wahbi Khazri scored a hat trick after South Korea striker Hwang Ui-jo gave Bordeaux an early lead from the penalty spot. Saint-Etienne travels to PSG next weekend.
Also Sunday, it was: Brest 1, Nimes 1; and Nice 0, Reims 0.
PSG won 4-1 at Strasbourg on Saturday.
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