Gameiro takes PSG eight points clear

PARIS (AFP) –

Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Kevin Gameiro (L) celebrates after scoring during a French Ligue 1 football match against Montpellier at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 29, 2013. Gameiro scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain beat Montpellier 1-0 on Friday to open an eight-point lead in Ligue 1.

Substitute Kevin Gameiro scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain beat Montpellier 1-0 on Friday to open an eight-point lead in Ligue 1.

Gameiro’s 80th-minute strike arrived just nine minutes after the 25-year-old had replaced Clement Chantome as PSG secured a morale-boosting win just four days before they tackle Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

David Beckham, who had come on as a substitute at the same time as Gameiro, played a key role in the goal.

The former England captain, showing no signs of fatigue after his four-day publicity trip to China, started the move which yielded all three points.

His pass found Jeremy Menez, who in turn released Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Swede’s pass was collected by Gameiro to score and sink the defending champions at the Parc des Princes.

“I am very satisfied. It’s never easy to prepare for a match before the Champions League, but we had a good attitude,” said PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“Gameiro showed how concentrated he was. Perhaps I could give him more playing time. Not for the first time, he scored a very important goal. Beckham brought all his experience and his passing quality.”

Ancelotti warned his team not to allow their eight-point lead to deflect them from their preparation for Tuesday’s first leg Champions League clash with Barca in Paris.

“We will prepare as normal. We all know Barca, but we want to put out a team that will want to play football, even if it’s against one of the world’s best sides.

“We are in the quarter-finals, it’s very exciting. But now everything will become a lot tougher.”

Lyon can close the gap on PSG with victory at home to Sochaux on Sunday while third-placed Marseille, 10 points off the lead, go to Nice.