Paris: Remy Cabella cancelled out a rare goal from Maxwell as Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at faltering defending champions Montpellier late on Sunday.
Both sides finished the match with 10 men as Mamadou Sakho was dismissed for the visitors, while Younes Belhanda received his marching orders for Montpellier in a tetchy affair that saw PSG return to the Ligue 1 summit.
Marseille had provisionally assumed control of top spot earlier in the day following a 2-2 draw at home to Nice, but a point for Carlo Ancelotti’s side at Stade de la Mosson was enough for the Parisians to usurp their arch-rivals on goal difference, albeit having played one game extra.
Guillaume Hoarau was handed a rare start by Ancelotti, but the French striker’s participation came to an abrupt end as he was substituted after just 12 minutes with PSG forced to reshuffle following Sakho’s red card for a professional foul on Gaetan Charbonnier.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, PSG went in front on 37 minutes as Maxwell lofted an exquisite chip from just inside the area over Geoffrey Jourdren.
But the hosts equalised on the hour-mark as Remy Cabella dispossessed Blaise Matuidi, advanced into the box before striking into the far corner past Salvatore Sirigu.
Meanwhile, Lyon are third after their 1-1 draw at struggling Sochaux. AFP
