Slick Lyon go seven points clear

By Chris Burke

Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais moved another step closer to their fourth consecutive title with an irresistible 4-0 home win over Toulouse FC, while all the teams in the chasing pack dropped points with the exception of Olympique de Marseille.

Lille slip
The day's action began when stuttering LOSC Lille Métropole drew 0-0 at home to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard - the second-placed side's third draw in a row. That result meant Lyon went into their game with Toulouse knowing victory would put them seven points clear, and the French champions got off to the perfect start when Brazilian Juninho Pernambucano struck with a spectacular 35-metre free-kick after just two minutes.

Juninho double
Florent Malouda added the second on the stroke of half-time, before Juninho hit the target again with another free-kick and Bryan Bergougnoux added a fourth. Lyon have been top of the table since mid-October and look to be in a stronger position than ever given there were also draws for AS Monaco FC and AJ Auxerre. Missing the chance to go second, Monaco drew 0-0 at 15th-placed FC Nantes Atlantique, while AJ Auxerre needed a late solo effort from Bonaventure Kalou to salvage a 2-2 result at home to AS Saint-Etienne.

Marseille win
Only Marseille kept up the pressure with a convincing 3-1 triumph over visitors Stade Rennais FC. Bruno Cheyrou headed in the opener on 35 minutes, Laurent Batllès added the second with a stunning bicycle kick before the break, and Steve Marlet made sure of the points as Marseille moved up into third place, just a point behind Lille. Toifilou Maoulida scored for Rennes, who also had Kim Källström sent off.

Pagis pounces
AC Ajaccio's failure to find the net in their goalless draw with bottom club FC Istres meant they joined them in the relegation zone, while the game between 19th-placed SC Bastia and FC Girondins de Bordeaux also finished 0-0. RC Strasbourg moved in the opposite direction thanks to Mickaël Pagis's hat-trick in a 5-0 win over SM Caen. In the day's other match OGC Nice and FC Metz drew 1-1.