Bernardo Silva strike leaves Monaco on brink of Ligue 1 crown

Paris: Player of the year nominee Bernardo Silva was on target as Monaco eased to a 3-0 win at Nancy on Saturday to leave them on the brink of a first French title since 2000. Monaco had seen nearest challengers Paris Saint-Germain trounce bottom club Bastia 5-0 earlier, but they responded in style with a comfortable victory at the Stade Marcel-Picot.

They are three points clear of defending champions PSG at the Ligue 1 summit, with a game in hand and a superior goal difference. Valere Germain’s cross took a deflection off Tobias Badila, catching out goalkeeper Guy Roland Ndy Assembe at his near post.

Silva doubled their lead five minutes from half-time before Lemar made it 3-0 with four minutes remaining. Earlier, a hotly contested Verratti goal helped PSG to a comfortable 5-0 win over bottom club Bastia.

Lucas Moura opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, before the controversial moment when the hosts went 2-0 up. With Blaise Matuidi down in the Bastia area and the ball having gone out for a throw, visiting goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca went to check on the PSG midfielder.

However, the hosts took the throw quickly and Verratti smashed a shot into the net from the edge of the area, catching out Leca. Cavani, who had a penalty saved, then made it 3-0 before Marquinhos got the fourth, and the former scored his second.