France round-up: Lens remain focussed

Penalty clincher
In the afternoon kick-off, Pape Bouba Diop's 38th-minute penalty was enough for Lens to claim a 1-0 home win over AS Monaco FC in a game marred by two sendings-off.

Two red cards 
Monaco's Gaël Givert was dismissed after 18 minutes of the first half while Lens's Rigobert Song received his marching orders four minutes into the second.

Nice stay top 
In the evening matches, surprise leaders Nice showed their mettle with a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain FC. The new boys went ahead when Brazilian Everson volleyed in a Kaba Diawara cross on the hour. But the home side levelled through Argentinian Martin Cardetti 13 minutes later.

Sochaux on form 
Elsewehere, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard capped a fine display with a 2-1 win against Olympique Lyonnais. Second-half goals from substitute Sylvain Monsoreau and Mickäel Pagis inflicted a first defeat of the season on the champions, whose late consolation came from a Nisa Saveljic own goal.

No joy for Nantes 
Last season's UEFA Champions League contenders FC Nantes Atlantique went down 1-0 at CS Sedan-Ardennes - Stéphan Noro's strike earning the home team their first league win of the campaign.

Goalless draws 
There were no goals between En Avant Guingamp and FC Girondins de Bordeaux at the Roudourou stadium, and it was also goalless between Montpellier Hérault SC and Le Havre AC, who lost defender Laurent Ciechelski to a late red card.

Troyes on top 
Mamadou Niang's early effort edged ES Troyes Aube Champagne past AC Ajaccio, so it was SC Bastia who flew the flag for Corsican football with a 3-1 home success against Stade Rennais FC. The night's other game ended in a 2-2 draw between RC Strasbourg and Lille OSC.