Marseille's Niang strikes down Lyon

Niang reply
Favourites Lyon would have moved six points clear at the top with a widely-expected win at Stade Gerland and the six-time champions looked on course to stretch their lead when captain Juninho Pernambucano broke the deadlock seven minutes into the game, heading in following a mix-up in the visiting defence. Marseille were offered a lifeline three minutes later when Niang steered in a penalty awarded after the forward was brought down by Sébastien Squillaci. And Niang scored the winner two minutes before the break, ending Lyon's seven-match winning sequence and breathing new life into the French title race.

Bellion double
Earlier in the evening, FC Girondins de Bordeaux reclaimed third place by defeating fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls Stade Rennais FC 3-0 at home. Former Manchester United FC striker David Bellion struck twice on 18 (penalty) and 49 minutes before teeing up Gabriel Obertan for the third goal (82). Bellion's double-strike takes him up to second place in the scorers' charts with ten goals, five behind Lyon's Karim Benzema. Bordeaux, who lead UEFA Cup Group H, trail AS Nancy-Lorraine by three points following their 0-0 draw at Paris Saint-Germain FC on Saturday. In the meantime, FC Lorient returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win against Toulouse FC thanks to an early second-half goal by Fabrice Abriel at Stade Moustoir.