Bordeaux defeat opens door for Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais could move nine points clear in Ligue 1 on Sunday after their nearest challengers FC Girondins de Bordeaux were beaten 3-1 at Valenciennes FC.

Valenciennes victory
With Lyon playing Paris Saint-Germain FC 24 hours later than the main body of fixtures, Bordeaux were hoping to halve the six-point gap at the top on Saturday. But they fell behind early to Sébastien Roudet and although Wendel swiftly equalised, Filip Šebo made it 2-1 on 64 minutes and Steve Savidan extended the Valenciennes lead with 12 minutes left.

Nancy move closer
AS Nancy-Lorraine are now only three points behind Bordeaux as they secured a 2-1 success against bottom team FC Metz. The visitors thought they had a point when Vincent Bessat struck four minutes from time to cancel out Youssouf Hadji's goal early in the second half but Moncef Zerka then headed the winner, injuring himself in the process. Nancy had Mickaël Chrétien sent off in added time but held on.

Marseille reverse
Metz are 13 points adrift after Toulouse FC held Le Mans UC 72 1-1, but the sixth-placed side did not lose ground in the race for European places as the two teams directly ahead of them both lost at home. Olympique de Marseille, in fourth, are six points behind Nancy after going down 1-0 against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, who are now three points ahead of third-bottom PSG, while OGC Nice were beaten 2-1 by FC Lorient.

Relegation race
LOSC Lille Métropole are only a point behind Nice and Le Mans thanks to a 1-0 win against lowly RC Strasbourg. SM Caen moved away from danger by beating AS Monaco FC 4-1, who remain in trouble along with AJ Auxerre, defeated 3-1 at home by AS Saint-Etienne. The pressure is now on RC Lens, who could fall behind PSG on Sunday if they do not get a win at Stade Rennais FC.