Lens move second after Lille slip

Carriére opener
With Lille having been held by struggling Nantes earlier in the day Lens knew a win would be enough to lift them into second and the visitors wasted no time in taking charge of the match. Eric Carriére (30) and Seydou Keita (46) gave the UEFA Cup hopefuls a two-goal cushion before Steve Savidan struck midway through the second half for the home side. An added-time goal from Issam Jomaa completed the scoring to move Lens to within eleven points of leaders Olympique Lyonnais, who face ES Troyes Aube Champagne on Sunday.

Lille frustration
Despite dominating affairs, Lille were left frustrated by some resolute defending in their meeting with Nantes as both Nicolas Plestan and Jean II Makoun saw efforts rebound back off the woodwork. The home team's frustration was increased further due to an injury to playmaker Mathieu Bodmer - the 24-year-old carried off on a stretcher midway through the second half with a twisted right ankle.

St-Etienne shock
AS Saint-Etienne missed out moving fourth after a surprise 2-1 home defeat by the bottom side CS Sedan-Ardennes. Joseph-Desiré Job cancelled out Bafetibi Gomes's eleventh-minute strike two minutes into the second half and Lamine Diatta put through his own net on 73 minutes to give Sedan their third win of the season. OGC Nice also did their hopes of staving off relegation no harm with a 2-1 win against FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Two first-half goals by Ederson were enough to secure three precious points as Bordeaux could only respond with a Johan Micoud strike.

Monaco win
There were also 2-1 victories for AS Monaco FC, FC Lorient and AS Nancy-Lorraine against AJ Auxerre, Le Mans UC 72 and Toulouse FC respectively while FC Sochaux-Montbéliard were held to a goalless draw by Stade Rennais FC. Olympique de Marseille can move third with a win against Paris Saint-Germain FC on Sunday.