A Wendel hat-trick helped Bordeaux reduce the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Lyon to three points as Les Girondins thrashed struggling Paris St Germain 3-0.

Brazilian midfielder Wendel opened the scoring on 33 minutes and added two impressive goals within three minutes shortly after the interval.

Second-placed Bordeaux have 52 points from 27 matches to Lyon's 55 while PSG remain 17th on 31 points, two above the relegation zone.

Lyon host Bordeaux next weekend in a crunch encounter that could have a massive bearing on the title race.

Bernard Mendy and Amara Diane narrowly missed early chances for PSG, with the visitors making a lively start at Bordeaux's Chaban-Delmas stadium before Wendel netted with a fine curling shot after being set up by playmaker Johan Micoud.

It was then all too easy for Laurent Blanc's side, who twice caught the PSG defence napping.

Four minutes into the second half Wendel met a Marouane Chamakh cross unchallenged to make it 2-0 with a volley on the turn.

The Brazilian scored his ninth league goal of the season two minutes later with a 25-yard header from an Alejandro Alonso cross on the right.

PSG ended the game with 10 men when striker Peguy Luyindula left the pitch injured after coach Paul Le Guen had already used his three substitutes.

St Etienne 0-0 Nice

Nice missed an opportunity to move up to fifth when they were held to a 0-0 draw at St Etienne.

Only 13 goals were scored, the second lowest tally of the season, in 10 league matches this weekend with four of them ending 0-0.

Nice remain sixth with 39 points from 27 games, one adrift of Le Mans who lost 1-0 to Racing Strasbourg on Saturday.

St Etienne - who dominated most of the game but proved too clumsy in the box - stay 10th on 36 points.

Reuters