Monaco beats Nantes 2-1, moves closer to CL berth

PARIS (AP) - Having all but relinquished its French league title, Monaco strengthened its hold on second place by beating Nantes 2-1 on Saturday.

The Principality club, which trails leader Paris Saint-Germain by 14 points with six games left, extended its lead over third-place Marseille to eight points in their fight for the second automatic Champions League qualifying place. Marseille hosts Mediterranean rival Montpellier on Sunday.

Monaco, which was well beaten by PSG 3-0 last weekend in the League Cup final, travels to the Parc des Princes next Sunday for a game feeling like a transfer of power, as PSG will seal its fifth title in six years with a victory.

Still competing for a domestic treble, PSG was held at Saint-Etienne to 1-1.

Monaco put on a solid display to come from behind after Adrien Thomasson put the visitors in the lead in the 32nd minute at Stade Louis II. Radamel Falcao leveled 10 minutes later and in-form Rony Lopes sealed Monaco's win in the 45th with his eighth goal in his last seven league matches.

Thomasson chested the ball down and curled a precise shot into the top corner to beat Monaco 'keeper Danijel Subasic.

With his former strike partner Kylian Mbappe watching from the stands, Falcao scored his 50th goal in the French league with a brilliant strike after being involved in the buildup. Lopes accidentally deflected a cross from Fabinho but perfectly set up Falcao.

Falcao then turned provider for Lopes.

Monaco is unbeaten in its last 17 league games, its last defeat dating to November.