Win keeps Lens focused on Europe

RC Lens boosted their chances of winning a direct place in next season's UEFA Champions League with victory against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard to move four points clear of LOSC Lille Métropole in second in Ligue 1.

Free-scoring
Francis Gilot's side scored three times for the fourth consecutive game as they swept aside Sochaux 3-1 at the Stade Félix-Bollaert, just four days before their UEFA Cup Round of 32 meeting with Panathiniakos FC at the same venue. Lens scored twice in three minutes midway through the first half, with defender Vitorino Hilton (28) heading in before captain Seydou Keita (30) found the net from an Aruna Dindane cross. The Ivorian then wrapped up the win himself with a close-range finish just short of the hour mark.

Marseille chance
Serbian defender Duško Tošić scored a late consolation for Sochaux but it was not enough to prevent Lens from getting their third straight win in all competitions. Olympique de Marseille had the chance to reduce the gap on Lens to three points, and move into third in the table, with victory at FC Girondins de Bordeaux in Sunday's late game. However, a goal by Julien Faubert (75) ensured that Bordeaux's record of not having lost at home against Marseille since 1977 remained intact as they won 1-0 to move up five places to seventh.