Kevin Strootman scored a late winner as Marseille edged out high-flying Rennes 1-0 on Friday to move within four points of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Andre Villas-Boas’ men clinched victory in a tight encounter when Dutch midfielder Strootman volleyed into an empty net after Dimitri Payet’s 84th-minute free-kick hit the post. Reigning champions PSG have two games in hand on Marseille and face Robert Moreno’s Monaco on Sunday and again three days later in a rescheduled match. Marseille are bidding for a first French title since 2010 and underlined their credentials as PSG’s closest challengers by ending third-placed Rennes’ five-game winning streak. Visiting goalkeeper Steve Mandanda only had to make one difficult save to deny Benjamin Bourigeaud just before half-time at Roazhon Park, after Alvaro had struck the woodwork for Marseille.

Source: Punch January 10, 2020 22:07 UTC