AFP/Paris

Brazilian-born Italy midfielder Thiago Motta cracked home a long-range strike on 19 minutes before Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotted home a penalty seven minutes into the second period.

Romain Alessandrini pulled a goal back for the Breton hosts midway through the second half but Edinson Cavani’s injury time low strike sealed the points.

The victory kept PSG two points clear of second-placed Monaco, who won 2-0 at Guingamp later on Saturday.

But with just 11 points dropped in 18 matches this season, PSG appear well on their way to maintaining their grip on the Ligue 1 crown.

If there was any doubt about the Parisians’ current morale after two defeats in their last three matches, they were dispelled in a controlled performance.

PSG’s 2-0 loss at Evian two weeks ago ended a 36-match unbeaten run but their midweek reverse at Benfica in the Champions League came with several stars rested and after the French champions had already secured top spot in their group.

In between those two setbacks they had thumped lowly Sochaux 5-0.

“We lost two away matches because I think we lacked the ingredients needed for such high-level matches,” said PSG coach Laurent Blanc. “Tonight, apart from the victory, the overall performance really pleased me. The players rediscovered their spirit.”

It was a game punctuated by some fine goals, most of all, the opening one. Motta was fully 25 yards out when he shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot and hit a powerful effort that curled around goalkeeper Benoit Costil.

The second came as Blaise Matuidi made a surging run into the box following a one-two, only to be sent crashing to the ground by a sliding challenge from Cedric Houtondji.

Ibrahimovic calmly rolled the spot-kick home straight down the middle for his 14th goal of the season, keeping him top of the scoring charts.

Rennes’s hopes were revived when Alessandrini cracked home a free-kick from as far out as Motta’s goal, but PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu should have done better with a strike that seemed to go straight through him.

The final nail in the home coffin came in time added on as Cavani robbed the ball in his own half and sprinted up the field to take Matuidi’s pass from a swift counter before shooting home from outside the area.

Bordeaux run continues

Bordeaux came from behind to beat Valenciennes 2-1 and stretch its winning run in Ligue 1 to four matches yesterday. Valenciennes took the lead against the run of play in the 55th minute when Tongo Doumbia headed in Mathieu Dossevi’s corner. But Jussie leveled three minutes later with a penalty after Landry N’Guemo had been fouled by Benjamin Angoua.

Nicolas Maurice-Belay scored what was to prove the winner in the 73rd, with a low drive into the bottom left corner.

Salomon Kalou scored a brace as Lille beat Bastia 2-1 yesterday. Ludovic Genest opened the scoring for Bastia in the third minute before Kalou levelled in the 17th minute and scored what proved to be the winner in the 22nd minute.