Marseille beats Brest to keep pressure on Lyon

PARIS (AP) -Center half Souleymane Diawara and winger Andre Ayew both scored as Marseille won 2-1 at Brest on Sunday to move two points behind French leader Lyon and knock struggling Paris Saint-Germain out of the top three places.

Marseille took the lead in the 35th minute when midfielder Joey Barton pulled the ball back for Diawara to score with a powerful shot into the top corner.

After Dutch striker Charlison Benschop equalized in the 43rd, Barton also provided the pass for Ayew to grab the winner in the 57th as Marseille bounced back from a 4-1 home thrashing by Lyon.

"I was hoping for a reaction after the Lyon game. It was a good one, and the players fought hard in difficult conditions,'' Marseille coach Elie Baup said. "It's a shame we didn't get a third goal as we had our chances, but our commitment was brilliant.''

Barton was making only his third league appearance since joining from Queens Park Rangers in the offseason.

"Barton is fresh, he can keep on playing,'' Baup said. "He has that ability to push forward.''

The fiery midfielder had to sit out the first 12 league games after the Football League upheld a lengthy ban by the English Football Association because of Barton's violent behavior toward three Manchester City players on the final day of last season.

Barton will become even more important in the next few games as midfielder Benoit Cheyrou faces a spell out after pulling a groin muscle late in the first half.

"He will have further tests, but it's always a worry when it's a groin problem,'' Baup said. "We'll see.''

PSG, which lost 2-1 at Nice on Saturday, is now in fourth place behind third-place Saint-Etienne on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Rennes came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at lowly Troyes and climb up to seventh place.

Veteran playmaker Benjamin Nivet gave Troyes the lead midway through the first half and midfielder Stephane Darbion doubled the home side's lead in the 40th.

But midfielder Romain Alessandrini continued his fine run of form and pulled a goal back in the 48th - his fourth goal in the past five games - before wingers Julien Feret and Jonathan Pitroipa scored a goal each in the last 10 minutes to seal the comeback.

Rennes is only one point behind PSG, while Troyes remains in 19th place and is already seven points behind 18th-place Sochaux.

Later Sunday, Lorient was hosting Toulouse.