Montpellier Hérault SC returned to the Ligue 1 summit after their 3-1 victory at struggling AC Ajaccio coincided with a first loss of the campaign for Olympique Lyonnais.

Lyon had assumed pole position following Sunday's defeat of Olympique de Marseille, yet slipped up 1-0 at SM Caen, who took the lead through Benjamin Nivet's penalty (45+2). That was awarded for a foul by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on Romain Hamouma, for which he was dismissed, but the numbers were evened up on 62 minutes when the match-winner received his second booking.

Montpellier, who on Saturday drew with Stade Brestois 29, prevailed against Ajaccio thanks to goals from Rémy Cabella, Marco Estrada and John Utaka, but had Abdel El Kaoutari (63) sent off.

Lyon, Stade Rennais FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC and Toulouse FC are all two points behind the leaders. Rennes delivered the performance of the night by winning 6-2 at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, while PSG overcame visitors OGC Nice 2-1 in a match where all the goals came from the spot and which ended ten-a-side following red cards for Christophe Jallet (78) and Luciano Monzón (85).

Elsewhere, there was welcome relief for Marseille, who gained their first victory at the seventh time of asking courtesy of a 2-0 home success against Evian Thonon Gaillard.