PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a first-half penalty to provide champions Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 home win against Nice which lifted them one point of French league leaders Marseille.

Ibrahimovic, who also scored in Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League win against Ajax Amsterdam, netted from the spot in the 15th minute to put PSG on 33 points from 15 games. It was their ninth competitive victory in a row and followed Marseille’s 2-0 win over Nantes on Friday.

PSG are unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions this season.

In Germany champions Bayern Munich edged Hertha in Berlin by 1-0 courtesy of an Arjen Robben goal to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 10 points and equal a Bundesliga record for goals conceded after 13 games.

Bayern thus matched Stuttgart’s 2003-04 record of conceding only three goals in the opening 13 matches.

Coach Pep Guardiola said: “I am satisfied with the first half but not with the second.

“Maybe my players were a bit tired after playing 70 minutes in Manchester with 10 men. We seemed to forget our playing culture in the second half.”

In Spain Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a club-record 16th consecutive victory in all competitions.

The Portugal forward crossed for Karim Benzema to put Carlo Ancelotti’s team ahead with a prodded finish at the near post. Ronaldo then flicked a header on for Gareth Bale to seal the victory with a firm finish on the break.

Real’s Isco was sent off for a second booking before Roque Santa Cruz headed in a late consolation goal.

The victory sees Ancelotti better the 15-match sequences achieved by Jose Mourinho in 2011 and Miguel Munoz in 1961.

Ronaldo, 29, has played an integral role in Real’s recent run and he took his tally of assists to eight for the season to help end Malaga’s unbeaten home record.

BRAZIL: Hospital spokesmen in Sao Paulo have said Pele’s health continues to improve though he remains in intensive care for treatment to a urinary tract infection after kidney stones surgery last month.

CROATIA: Hajduk Split staged a mass protest in the city centre demanding the resignation of Croatian FA president Davor Suker over alleged favouritism to Dinamo Zagreb, champions for the last nine years.#

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