Soccer: Lo Celso gives PSG opportunist 1-0 win at Bordeaux

BORDEAUX, FRANCE (Reuters) - French champions Paris St Germain ground out a smash and grab 1-0 win at Girondins Bordeaux after midfielder Giovani Lo Celso struck against the run of play in their lively Ligue 1 clash on Sunday.

Lo Celso drove in a rebound through a forest of legs from the edge of the penalty area in the 76th minute after visiting keeper Alphonse Areola had pulled off a string of superb saves at the other end.

Areola kept out a Lukas Lerager piledriver and a close-range header by centre back Pablo before Lo Celso pounced on a half-cleared corner to give PSG a barely deserved victory.

PSG, who secured their fifth league title in six years last weekend with games to spare after a 7-1 mauling of last season’s champions Monaco, looked flat in the second half after missing some good chances in the opening period.

Bordeaux keeper Benoit Costil kept out a rasping Lo Celso volley in the 13th minute and Kylian Mbappe blazed a shot on the turn over the bar, before Javier Pastore fired inches off target.

PSG striker Edinson Cavani had a goal correctly ruled out for offside shortly after the break before Bordeaux pinned back the visitors.

Having scored when the hosts looked more likely to break the deadlock, PSG held on comfortably in the closing stages.

Earlier on Sunday, Nice kept alive their hopes of clinching a Europa League berth after a Pierre Lees-Melou goal gave them a 1-0 win over Montpellier while St Etienne came from behind to beat struggling Troyes 2-1 thanks to a Robert Beric double.