PSG shocked at Bastia, taken over by St-Etienne in Ligue 1

Julian Palmieri celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Bastia and Paris Saint Germain

Paris, Jan 11 (IANS) France football champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) resumed their campaign with a humiliating 2-4 defeat of relegation-threatened SC Bastia, while Saint-Etienne took over the third place temporarily with a 2-1 win at Reims in Ligue 1.

Laurent Blanc's side went into the game Saturday knowing a two-goal victory would see it leapfrog Lyon and Marseille to the top spot for the first time this season, as Marseille lost 1-2 to Montpellier HSC Friday and Lyon play Toulouse Sunday, reports Xinhua.

The French champions, however, let slip a two-goal lead established after just 20 minutes to lose 2-4 eventually.

PSG stamped their authority in the 10th minute when Lucas Moura cleverly lifted the ball over Alphonse Areola after being played in behind the home defensive line by Yohan Cabaye.

Ten minutes later, it was 2-0 as Adrien Rabiot slotted beyond Areola after Javier Pastore and Blaise Matuidi combined to fashion space for him inside the area.

However, a debatable Ryad Boudebouz penalty and a soft Francois-Joseph Modesto header from a corner levelled things up before the break.

The hosts took the lead spectacularly through Julian Palmieri after 56 minutes, and the 28-year-old then wrapped things up with one minute to go to complete his double and a memorable come-from-behind victory.

It has been the second defeat of the season for Les Parisiens, who're now without a win in three games in all competitions, while Bastia, who were the joint-lowest scorers in Ligue 1 prior to the match, now came out of the bottom three for the first time since November.

Elsewhere in Saturday's play of the French top flight, Evian TG FC tied Stade Rennes FC 1-1 at home, EAG Guingamp eased past RC Lens 2-0, Lille OSC nipped a 1-0 win over Caen and OGC Nice beat FC Lorient 3-1.