Govou keeps Lyon marching on

By Chris Burke

A superb strike from Sidney Govou clinched a 2-1 home victory for Olympique Lyonnais over FC Istres as the French champions made a successful return to Ligue 1 action.

Juninho free-kick
Bottom-side Istres must have feared the worst after watching Paul Le Guen's side put seven past Werder Bremen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, and many felt the floodgates would open after Juninho Pernambucano fired in his sixth free-kick goal in the league this season on 20 minutes. But Istres were back on level terms ten minutes later when Moussa N'Diaye headed in from a corner.

Govou shot
The Provençal side defended well in the second-half and looked set to clinch a crucial point until French international Govou curled a stunning shot into the top corner with twelve minutes left. The win keeps Lyon a comfortable eight points ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille, who needed goals from Steve Marlet in the 30th and 71st minutes to keep their slender title hopes alive after John Utaka had put visitors RC Lens ahead.

Frei form
Alexander Frei took himself clear at the top of the scoring charts as his 13th strike this term helped Stade Rennais FC earn a 1-1 draw away to FC Metz. It was only the fifth point Rennes have picked up on their travels and it kept them in seventh spot ahead of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, who won 2-0 at home to AS Saint-Etienne thanks to goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Marouane Chamakh.

Sochaux win
Right behind Bordeaux, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard had to work hard for a 1-0 home triumph over a tenacious Bastia side after Ilan had struck in the very first minute. Bastia remain 19th, but are still within three points of safety as Mamadou Bagayoko and Claudiu Keseru gave FC Nantes Atlantique a 2-0 victory over 17th-placed SM Caen.

Ajaccio joy
The only winners in the relegation zone were AC Ajaccio, who beat away-side Paris Saint-Germain FC 1-0, while in the day's other game OGC Nice and RC Strasbourg drew 0-0. Sunday's matches promise to be entertaining, as third-placed LOSC Lille Métropole welcome Toulouse FC and fourth plays fifth when AS Monaco FC visit AJ Auxerre.