Berbatov shines as Monaco delay Paris party

Dimitar Berbatov maintained his sparkling form, scoring twice as AS Monaco FC triumphed 4-1 at AC Ajaccio.

Had Claudio Ranieri's side suffered defeat in Corsica, Paris Saint-Germain would have been crowned Ligue 1 champions. Led by Berbatov, however, Monaco produced a result that means Paris must win at relegation-threatened FC Sochaux-Montbélliard on Sunday to secure the title this weekend.

The Bulgarian striker produced a close-range header and a trademark cool finish for his seventh and eighth goals since joining the club in January, before quick counters brought late strikes for Geoffrey Kondogbia and Lucas Ocampos. Gadji Tallo pulled one back for the bottom-placed hosts.

With a seven-point cushion, Paris are unlikely to be denied a second successive Ligue 1 crown, though having moved 11 points clear in second, this win all but confirms Monaco as runners-up. Automatic qualification to next season's UEFA Champions League group stage edges closer.

In the pick of the day's other games, Benjamin Corgnet and Loïc Perrin both struck inside the first 15 minutes as AS Saint-Étienne beat Évian Thonon Gaillard FC 2-1 for a five-point lead in fourth, a defeat that leaves Évian 17th, themselves five points above the danger zone.

Joining Évian on 38 points are EA Guingamp, who narrowly prevailed at home against Valenciennes FC courtesy of Claudio Beauvue's decisive header. Valenciennes are nine points adrift of safety with three games left.

On Friday, Serge Gakpé cancelled out Florian Thauvin's opener as OGC Nice held Olympique de Marseille. Sixth-placed OM are two points shy of a UEFA Europa League berth.