Montpellier Hérault SC returned to the top of Ligue 1 alongside Paris Saint-Germain FC after a comfortable home win against SM Caen.

René Girard's charges raced into a two-goal lead in the first 20 minutes through Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and John Utaka and not even the sending-off of Joris Marveaux just past the hour could prevent Younés Belhanda scoring a third. Benjamin Nivet's penalty with eight minutes left was academic for the hosts, who were also reduced to ten men, when Pierre-Alain Frau was dismissed. Montpellier move level with PSG, who welcome Dijon FCO on Sunday, on 23 points.

Olympique de Marseille sealed only their second league win of the campaign thanks to two André Ayew goals. The forward, who also scored twice against Borussia Dortmund on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League, earned OM their first league win in a month, and a morale-boosting success following Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by Arsenal FC.

Elsewhere, AS Nancy-Lorraine and AS Saint-Étienne secured respective home victories against OGC Nice and Valenciennes FC, while the fixtures between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Stade Brestois 29, and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and Évian Thonon Gaillard FC finished 1-1. Toulouse FC drew 0-0 at FC Lorient in the late kick-off.