Pauleta back to haunt Bordeaux

Portuguese striker Pauleta scored the winning goal for Paris Saint-Germain FC against his former club FC Girondins de Bordeaux as the capital club provisionally climbed to second position in the Ligue 1 standings.

Pauleta pounces
The striker was perfectly placed to  turn a shot from PSG's Brazilian midfield player Reinaldo into the net two minutes after half-time and seal a 2-1 success for his new club. PSG moved up to 34 points, one ahead of champions Olympique Lyonnais having played two games more. Lyon travel to SC Bastia later on Saturday.

Missed opportunity
In a free-flowing match Pauleta, who joined PSG in the close season after 65 goals in 98 matches for Bordeaux over three seasons, missed a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock after 17 minutes, Bordeaux goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé keeping out his penalty with a fine diving stop.

Bordeaux break
Seconds later, Bordeaux were in front, with Spanish midfield player Albert Celades finishing well after good work from Jean-Claude Darcheville down the right. The home side drew level thanks to a bizarre goal after Reinaldo's 35-metre effort flew over Ramé's head and into the net.

Penalty drama
PSG's Argentinian defender Gabriel Heinze, who had earlier blocked a Celades shot that looked certain to go in, hit the post with a well-struck left-foot volley just before half-time, before Pauleta's moment came. The game might still have ended in a draw, however, but Darcheville failed to convert a late penalty and PSG held on.

Late-night action
Leaders AS Monaco FC, whose lead at the top has now been cut to five points, are at home to RC Strasbourg on Sunday, while fourth-placed FC Sochaux-Montbéliard play AC Ajaccio on Saturday. AJ Auxerre, in fifth, are at home to the side immediately below them, RC Lens, the same night, while Olympique de Marseille have a weekend off after their scheduled match at Montpellier Hérault SC was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.