Paris, Feb 5: Paris Saint-Germain kept a three-point lead over Montpellier at the top of the French league when Nene scored twice in a 3-1 win over Evian on Saturday.
Evian defender Cedric Cambon diverted home a half-volley from Olivier Sorlin on the stroke of halftime.
But PSG winger Jeremy Menez played Nene in and the Brazilian midfielder dribbled past Evian goalkeeper Stephan Andersen to level in the 47th minute.
Nene notched his 11th goal this season to give PSG the lead, converting a penalty after Evian defender Guillaume Rippert fouled Menez. He was denied by Andersen in the 89th, but PSG striker Kevin Gameiro followed up to seal the win.
"We were a bit shy in the first half even though we created a couple of chances," Menez said. "Then we conceded a goal at the worst moment of the match. But we showed again that we could react and that we had character."
PSG won its sixth straight game in all competitions.
Italy international Thiago Motta made his French league debut. The PSG midfielder started the match and received a yellow card in the 39th for fouling Sorlin.
Also, it was: Montpellier 1, Brest 0; Nancy 0, Rennes 0; Bordeaux 2, Toulouse 0; Dijon 1, Valenciennes 2; and Ajaccio 1, Nice 1.
The match between Saint-Etienne and Lorient was suspended after 10 minutes because the pitch was covered with ice. It was postponed to a date yet to be announced.
In Montpellier, winger Geoffrey Dernis deflected in a shot from Remy Cabella to score the winning goal in the 40th. However, Dernis picked up a knee injury and was replaced by Morocco playmaker Younes Belhanda in the 53rd.
"I realize we're gradually gaining maturity," Montpellier coach Rene Girard told French radio. "We were never in danger. We tried to play and make efforts and it paid off."
In Bordeaux, Brazilian forward Jussie won the ball from Toulouse defender Daniel Congre to put the hosts ahead in the opening minute.
Poland midfielder Ludovic Obraniak added a second goal by curling a free kick into the top corner in the 40th.
Toulouse was down to 10 men when Moussa Sissoko picked up a second yellow card in the 42nd for throwing an elbow at Bordeaux defender Michael Ciani. He had already received a booking for clashing with Obraniak the previous minute.
"We have rediscovered a good mindset," Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil told Canal Plus television, "and if we continue like that, we'll be tough to beat."
Midfielders Renaud Cohade and Gael Danic scored for Valenciennes.
Cohade capitalized on a counterattack in the third minute to beat Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet. Danic doubled the lead with a close-range effort in the 43rd before Gregory Thil scored a consolation goal for Dijon with a header in stoppage time.
In Ajaccio, Brazilian striker Eduardo converted a penalty in the 57th after Nice defender Kevin Gomis fouled Frederic Sammaritano.
But Nice substitute Esmael Goncalves took advantage of a blunder from the Ajaccio defense to beat goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 84th.
