France round-up: Lyon fail to take advantage

Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais missed the chance to extend their advantage at the top of the table after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by struggling Lille OSC.

Missed chance
With nearest challengers AS Monaco FC and Olympique de Marseille both playing on Sunday, Lyon could have established a five point lead, but instead are just three points ahead of Monaco, who are at home to RC Strasbourg on Sunday and will return to the top with a win.

Lille go close
Lyon struggled to break down a well-organised Lille defence, and it was the visitors who created the clearest chance, only for striker Moussa N'Diaye to be denied by the post on the hour mark.

Emphatic win
FC Girondins de Bordeaux moved into third place above Marseille, who visit RC Lens on Sunday, with a 6-1 win at AC Ajaccio. Pauleta opened the scoring after 36 minutes, converting a Jean-Claude Darcheville cross, before Ajaccio's Laurent Moracchini and Grégory Lacombe were both dismissed within two minutes.

Three for Pauleta
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Bernard Diomedé equalised for the home side after 60 minutes, but Pauleta quickly restored Bordeaux's lead, and Savio headed a third after 72 minutes. Darcheville then headed in Bordeaux's fourth, before further goals from Pauleta, completing his hat-trick, and Camel Meriem, sealed the away team's win.

Drawn games
Fifth-placed FC Sochaux-Montbéliard were held to a 0-0 draw at home by En Avant Guingamp, while Nicolas Gillet put FC Nantes Atlantique in front after 49 minutes, but Alioune Touré equalised six minutes past the hour to earn visitors Paris Saint-Germain FC a draw.

Three for Camara
At the bottom of the table, Senegal international striker Henri Camara scored a second-half hat-trick, with Ludovic Asuar also on target in CS Sedan-Ardennes' 4-0 win at home to ES Troyes Aube Champagne, while Montpellier Hérault SC earned three crucial points at SC Bastia. Bertrand Robert had put the away side in front after just two minutes only for Florian Maurice to equalise after 70 minutes, but Geoffrey Doumeng scored Montpellier's winner seven minutes later.

Early winner
Olivier Kapo's early goal gave AJ Auxerre a 1-0 win at home to Le Havre AC, while Stade Rennais FC drew 2-2 at home to OGC Nice. Philippe Delaye and Dominique Arribagé twice put Rennes in front, but two equalisers from Yoann Bigné and Cédric Mionnet gave Nice a point.