PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain closed in on the French league title with a 1-0 victory at Evian that featured the dismissal of PSG midfielders David Beckham and Marco Verratti plus two other players after the match ended Sunday following a mass confrontation.



Javier Pastore scored in the 50th minute to keep PSG nine points ahead of second-place Marseille with four rounds remaining. Evian is one place above the relegation zone.



But the win will do little for PSG’s image, with midfielder Blaise Matuidi running over to gloat in front of the Evian bench moments after the final whistle and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu clashing with several Evian players.



Sirigu and Evian striker Saber Khlifa were sent off after the final whistle.



PSG hosts Valenciennes next Sunday and can seal the title with a win if Marseille fails to beat Bastia Saturday. However, PSG will be without Beckham, Verratti, Sirigu and holding midfielder Thiago Motta, who is also suspended.



Earlier, Lyon held onto third place after fighting back to earn a 1-1 draw at home to bitter local rival Saint-Etienne.

Also Sunday, sixth-place Nice beat Troyes 3-1.



Sociedad cements champs spot



In Spain, Real Sociedad striker Imanol Agirretxe scored two goals and set up a third in a highly entertaining 4-2 comeback win over Valencia Sunday.

Sociedad’s victory strengthened its hold on fourth place and Spain’s last Champions League berth by increasing its lead to five points over fifth-place Valencia with five rounds to go.



After Valencia forward Roberto Soldado scored in the 25th minute, Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez leveled in the 38th from a cross by Gonzalo “Chori” Castro.



Chori then put together an elegant passing combination with Agirretxe to give the host the lead on the break in the 73rd.



Agirretxe scored in the 86th and added another in stoppage time after Jonas had scored for Valencia to trail 3-2 in the 90th.



Elsewhere, Malaga moved level with Valencia in fifth with a routine 2-1 win over Getafe.



At the bottom Granada gave their hopes of survival a big boost with their 1-0 win at Espanyol.



And in the clash between two sides stuck in mid-table mediocrity, Valladolid and Sevilla shared the points in a 1-1 draw.



Milan wins thriller

AC Milan clung on to the Champions League playoff spot with a dramatic 4-2 win over Catania Sunday.

Milan scored three in the last 20 minutes to stay one point clear of Fiorentina, 3-0 winner at Sampdoria.

Catania went ahead at the San Siro with a Nicola Legrottaglie header after half an hour and then survived a huge scramble in their area almost immediately afterwards.

Mathieu Flamini leveled on the stroke of halftime, only for Gonzalo Bergessio to stun the crowd again by putting Catania back in front with a cheeky lob in the 65th minute. Pazzini came to the rescue, snapping up a rebound after Catania goalkeeper Alberto Frison failed to hold Balotelli’s shot in the 73rd minute and scoring another from close range three minutes later.

Balotelli, returning from a two-match suspension, completed the scoring. — Agencies