France round-up: Drogba doubt for flying Marseille

Drogba doubt
Marseille climbed to the top of Ligue 1 with the victory, which also saw strikers Didier Drogba, Steve Marlet and Dmitri Sytchev get on the scoresheet. But Drogba left the field injured and coach Alain Perrin said: "Drogba pulled an ankle muscle and is very doubtful for Madrid."

Spoils shared
AS Monaco FC are now two points adrift in second place after drawing 1-1 with Lille OSC. Ludovic Giuly put Monaco ahead a minute before half-time but the home side replied through Vladimir Manchev to seize a share of the spoils.

Cherrad seals it
OGC Nice moved level with LOSC on eleven points after defeating ten-man FC Nantes Atlantique thanks to a solitary Abdelmalek Cherrad goal. Loic Guillon's 79th-minute dismissal for the visitors ended any hopes of a comeback.

Niang double
Nantes are one of five clubs on ten points, with RC Strasbourg sitting prettiest after beating AC Ajaccio by the odd goal in five. Strasbourg's Senegalese striker Mamadou Niang scored twice midway through the first half to add to Danijel Ljuboja's early penalty, which had been cancelled out by Mamadou Bagayoko. Abdelnasser Ouaddah pulled one back for Ajaccio but Bernard Diomede was sent off for the visitors just before half-time.

Two each
Frederic Nee scored a double as EA Guingamp defeated SC Bastia 4-2 and Pierre Alain Frau was also a two-goal hero, finding the net twice for FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in their 3-1 away win against FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

Chance missed
RC Lens missed the chance to go second when they lost 2-0 to Stade Rennais FC in Rennes. Instead they find themselves in tenth position after being undone by goals from Olivier Sorlin and Stephane N'Guema.

Elber saviour
A goal from Brazilian forward Giovane Elber salvaged a 1-1 draw for champions Olympique Lyonnais at home to AJ Auxerre. In only his second game for the French champions, Elber was on hand to equalise from close range two minutes before half-time, converting a cross from compatriot Juninho Penrambucano to bring Lyon level. Djibril Cissé had given the visitors the lead in the 28th minute, scoring after good work from Bonaventure Kalou.

Thiaw heroics
FC Metz climbed above opponents Montepellier Hérault SC with a 2-1 home win secured with goals by Stephane Borbiconi and Pape Thiaw, the latter deep into added time.

Heinze winner
Paris Saint-Germain FC were another side to prevail by the odd goal in three when they welcomed Toulouse FC to the Parc des Princes on Sunday evening. Nicolas Dieuze's own goal had set them on their way but Nicolas Dieuze levelled matters - only for Gabril Heinze to find the winner midway through the second half.