Pastore powers PSG past Nice

Nice, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Javier Pastore scored a goal in each half to help PSG regain the top spot in Ligue 1 on Saturday with a 3-1 win at Nice.

Pastore struck in the 40th minute to put the visitors in front, but Mathieu Bodmer answered back for Nice just before the break to level the score. Pastore found the net again in the 63rd to restore PSG's lead, and Edinson Cavani sealed the victory six minutes later with a penalty kick.

The result moves PSG one point ahead of second-place Lyon, which can take back first place with a point at home against St Etienne on Sunday.

PSG was playing without two of its key players in forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was suspended, as well as injured captain Thiago Silva.

Nice had the better of the play for much of the opening half, but PSG struck first as Pastore tracked down a pass from Lucas Moura and slotted his shot past Nice goalkeeper Simon Pouplin.

The hosts authored a response just before the break, however, as Bodmer redirected a low shot from Said Benrahma past goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Both netminders made impressive stops after the break to keep the match level as Pouplin tipped a close-range effort from David Luiz over the crossbar before Sirigu palmed a header from Carlos Eduardo against the post.

Luiz hit the crossbar with a header as PSG continued to pressure, and Pastore netted his second goal in the 63rd when his initial volley was stopped by Pouplin, allowing the Argentina international to score on the rebound.

Cavani killed the game off for PSG with a successful penalty kick six minutes later after he was tripped inside the penalty area by Jordan Amavi.

Also in Ligue 1 action on Saturday, Reims got first-half goals from David Ngog and Aissa Mandi to edge Bastia, 2-1, Evian and Guingamp battled to a 1-1 draw, Metz moved to within six points of safety with a 3-1 victory over Lens in a battle of the bottom two sides in the league, Monaco was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Rennes, which got the equalizer in the 88th minute through Mahamadou Habibou, and Toulouse used a first-half goal from Martin Braithwaite to top Lorient, 1-0.