Lille comeback cuts Lyon lead

By Chris Burke

LOSC Lille Métropole came from behind to defeat FC Nantes Atlantique 2-1 and cut Olympique Lyonnais' Ligue 1 lead to three points as they champions were held to a goalless draw at FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

Kapsis clearance
The better chances at Bordeaux fell to unbeaten Lyon, with Florent Malouda hitting a post in the fourth minute and home defender Mihalis Kapsis having to rush back to intercept Pierre-Alain Frau's effort 20 minutes from time. At the other end, Mahamadou Diarra cleared off the line.

Quickfire goals
Lille saw off Nantes with goals in the 50th and 52nd minutes from Geoffrey Dernis and Matt Moussilou respectively cancelling out Shiva N'Zigou's first-half opener. Nantes remain just one point off the relegation zone.

Monaco joy 
AS Monaco FC leapt into third place with a 2-0 win at SC Bastia. Javier Saviola celebrated his 23rd birthday by setting up Ernesto Chevantón before scoring the second himself in first-half injury-time. Just behind them on goal difference are AJ Auxerre - a 62nd-minute Benjani Mwaruwari thunderbolt secured a 1-0 victory at Olympique de Marseille, who dropped to fifth.

Piquionne performance
AS Saint-Etienne continued a six-match unbeaten run with a 5-0 win at home to SM Caen. Frédéric Piquionne struck twice, with David Hellebuyck, Frédéric Mendy and substitute Lilian Compan also on target. There were two goals for OGC Nice's Marama Vahirua as well, either side of François Grenet's volley in a 3-0 home win against AC Ajaccio.

Bottom sides lose
The Corsican club stay in 19th as fellow strugglers RC Strasbourg succumbed 1-0 to eastern neighbours FC Metz and bottom club FC Istres lost 2-1 against Toulouse FC. Elsewhere, Stade Rennais FC overcame RC Lens 3-1. On Sunday, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard can rise into third place by defeating Paris Saint-Germain FC.