Montpellier Hérault SC moved level on points with Ligue 1 pacesetters FC Girondins de Bordeaux thanks to a fifth successive league victory, while third-placed LOSC Lille Métropole also kept pace with a 3-1 defeat of US Boulogne.

Grenoble Foot 38 eliminated Montpellier from the Coupe de France last month but there was to be no repeat result for the division's bottom club as Colombian striker Víctor Montaño scored the only goal after 28 minutes. René Girard's team, who have kept clean sheets in each game of their winning run, are four points clear of Lille and a further two in front of Olympique de Marseille after the pair both won.

Ludovic Obraniak started and finished the scoring as Lille triumphed over Boulogne, while AS Monaco FC defender Nicolas N'Koulou condemned his team to a 2-1 defeat by scoring an 89th-minute own goal against OM, their fourth straight league win at Stade Louis II. Monaco had Alejandro Alonso dismissed in added time. Olympique Lyonnais overcame RC Lens 1-0 and remain fifth, a point behind Marseille.

Valenciennes FC were also the beneficiaries of a late goal, Filip Sebo earning the northern club a 2-1 success against OGC Nice, though there was nothing to separate AS Nancy-Lorraine and Paris Saint-Germain FC, who drew 0-0. Third-bottom Le Mans UC 72 edged a point closer to Nice with a goalless draw against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, although they will view it as an opportunity missed after the visitors played 45 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Loïc Poujol.

Bordeaux will restablish their three-point lead if they beat AS Saint Etienne on Sunday, when AJ Auxerre play Stade Rennais FC and FC Lorient welcome Toulouse FC.