PSG title hopes fade after loss at Lille

PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) - Paris St Germain's titles hopes suffered a major blow when they lost 2-1 at Lille on Sunday to stay five points behind Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier with four games left.

Qatari-backed PSG remained second on 67 points, two ahead of champions Lille who moved back into contention for automatic Champions League place.

Unheralded Montpellier took a big step toward their first league crown when they won 1-0 at Toulouse on Friday.

"It will be more difficult now to clinch the title but we have to keep on working and believing it's possible," PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti told Canal+ television.

"We also have to watch our backs to seal our Champions League qualification because Lille are only two points behind."

"We are disappointed because we did not deserve to lose. It will be important to react immediately."

PSG, who lost winger Jeremy Menez to injury minutes before the match, were on track to keep Montpellier within reach when a Javier Pastore header gave them the lead in the 48th minute.

They were playing well until Mamadou Sakho, who had replaced injured Milan Bisevac just before halftime, was shown a straight red card for a foul on substitute Nolan Roux in the 71st minute.

In-form Eden Hazard, who has now scored eight goals and set up six others in his last eight games, cancelled out the opener from the penalty spot.

Roux clinched the hosts' victory eight minutes later when he headed home from close range from a Tulio de Melo header after Belgian Hazard initiated a superb passing move.

Pastore and Hazard had their chances to score in the first half but the Argentina playmaker's fine volley hit the woodwork in the 27th minute. Hazard was also denied by the post.

EUROPEAN CHASE

At Stade Rennes, Julien Feret scored one goal and set up another to help the hosts climb to fourth place as they defeated 10-man Ajaccio 3-1.

Rennes won their fourth consecutive league match to occupy the first Europa League spot on 57 points and are one ahead of French Cup winners Olympique Lyon who have a game in hand.

Feret gave his side the lead when keeper Guillermo Ochoa deflected a Jires Kembo shot on the woodwork only to see Rennes playmaker head the ball in on the rebound in the 27th minute.

Razak Boukari doubled their advantage with five minutes to go as he bent the ball into the top right corner from outside the box before Yacine Brahimi ran through to seal the victory in stoppage time following a Feret pass.

Ajaccio, a point and a place above the drop zone, were reduced to 10 men after just 11 minutes when Samuel Bouhours was sent off for a harsh tackle on Jonathan Pitroipa. Ilan's 89th minute goal was of no use.

St Etienne stayed in contention for a European berth as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his 14th goal of the league season to earn his side a 1-0 home win over lowly Dijon.

Les Verts are sixth on 56 points while Dijon lie 16th on 34 points, one place above Ajaccio but on the same points.

At the bottom, basement side Auxerre kept their thin hopes of avoiding relegation alive after they