France round-up: Champions take charge

Champions Olympique Lyonnais moved two points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with a resounding 4-0 victory at RC Strasbourg.

Tight at the top
The three points put Lyon clear of Olympique de Marseille, 2-1 winners at home to SC Bastia earlier in the day, although AS Monaco FC can join the leaders on 64 points when they travel to Paris Saint-Germain FC on Sunday.

Ideal start
Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson gave Lyon the ideal start at Strasbourg, opening the scoring in the fifth minute. France international midfield player Eric Carrière doubled the away team's lead on the hour mark, and striker Péguy Lyunidula added a third five minutes later, before Philippe Violeau completed the victory ten minutes from time.

First-half lead
Earlier, Marseille played for more than an hour against ten men after Bastia goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau was showed the red card after 28 minutes for a foul on Manuel Dos Santos, and took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Dimitri Sytchev headed a Fabio Celestini cross into the net.

Late goals
Despite the numerical advantage, Marseille were unable to extend their lead until the 87th minute, when Belgium international defender Daniel van Buyten converted a low cross from Pascal Johansen. Laurent Battles scored a consolation for the away side three minutes into added time.
 
Bordeaux beaten
FC Girondins de Bordeaux remained in fourth place despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to AJ Auxerre. The away team moved level on points with their opponents thanks to a 75th-minute goal from Djibril Cissé, who finished after good work from Lionel Mathis, and held on despite losing defender Philippe Mexes to a last-minute red card.

Sochaux success
FC Sochaux Montbéliard also moved on to 57 points with a 2-0 win away to bottom side ES Troyes Aube Champagne. Sylvain Monsoreau gave the away side the lead four minutes into the second half, and a second from Pierre-Alain Frau a minute past the hour sealed the victory.

All-important three points
At the bottom of the table, AC Ajaccio earned a vital 1-0 away win against fellow strugglers Le Havre AC, with striker Bruno Rodriguez scoring the crucial goal 14 minutes from time. CS Sedan-Ardennes joined both sides on 35 points, holding on for a 0-0 draw at OGC Nice despite the 59th-minute dismissal of Modeste M'Bami.

Similar victories
Lille OSC and Montpellier Hérault SC both moved away from the relegation zone as each secured 1-0 home victories against ten men. Lille defeated Stade Rennais FC, with Australian striker Mile Sterjovski scoring the only goal of the game a minute past the hour and Rennes' Cyril Jeunechamp dismissed 20 minutes from time.

Penalty winner
At Montpellier, a 28th-minute penalty from Fode Mansaré proved enough against FC Nantes Atlantique, who lost defender Nicolas Gillet to a red card with seven minutes remaining. En Avant Guingamp also won 1-0, with Florent Malouda's goal enough against RC Lens.