Lyon stutter gives Bordeaux hope

FC Girondins de Bordeaux beat Stade Rennais FC 2-0 to move within seven points of Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais, who were held to a 1-1 draw.

Šmicer winner
Despite losing goalkeeper and captain Ulrich Ramé due to an elbow injury, Bordeaux broke the deadlock before the break courtesy of a header from Fernando Menegazzo. Vladimír Šmicer doubled their advantage on 67 minutes against a Rennes side who have now lost five league games in a row.

Auxerre suprised
AJ Auxerre were surprisingly held 1-1 at home by bottom side FC Metz – a penalty from Belgian international Luigi Pieroni with 15 minutes remaining saving the blushes of Jacques Santini's team. Ludovic Obraniak had opened the scoring for the Lorraine side ten minutes into the second half.

Late equaliser
Lyon came within a minute of their first away defeat of the league season against RC Lens before Sylvain Wiltord salvaged a 1-1 draw for the injury-ravaged UEFA Champions League hopefuls. The former Arsenal FC striker scored in added time after Brazilian winger Jussie had given Lens the advantage on 56 minutes.

Missed penalty
AS Monaco FC had to settle for a point at home to lowly ES Troyes AC, paying the price for a missed penalty from Marco Di Vaio. Fellow Italian Christian Vieri gave Monaco, who ended the match with ten men, an early advantage before Troyes levelled through Eloge Enza Yamissi.

Fairytale season
Ligue 1's surprise package, Le Mans UC 72, continued their fine season with a 2-0 victory against French League Cup finalists OGC Nice. Ismaël Bangoura scored twice to lift the Sarthe side into fifth place. Meanwhile, at the other end of the table UEFA Cup contenders RC Strasbourg drew 2-2 with AC Ajaccio, despite twice being ahead.

Marseille chance
On Sunday fourth-placed LOSC Lille Métropole host a Paris Saint-Germain FC side currently lying sixth, while Olympique de Marseille can draw level on points with Auxerre should they defeat strugglers Toulouse FC.