Montpellier narrow Bordeaux's lead

Montpellier Hérault SC capitalised on FC Girondins de Bordeaux's goalless draw against US Boulogne with a 2-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille which brought them within six points of the Ligue 1 leaders.

Cheyrou own goal
Promoted in the summer, Montpellier have been a revelation this term and claimed another notable scalp by defeating Didier Deschamps's side. Karim Aït-Fana had the locals on their feet first, turning past two defenders before angling the ball in four minutes after the interval. Benoît Cheyrou sealed the points 14 minutes from time by heading a corner into his own net. René Girard's team have now won their last three league games and were able to eat away at Bordeaux's lead after Laurent Blanc's side failed to find their range in front of goal at home against second-bottom Boulogne.

Derby wins
Third-placed LOSC Lille Métropole also made ground on the champions courtesy of a derby success over northern neighbours RC Lens, Eden Hazard collecting Gervinho's pass and finishing emphatically with 23 minutes gone. Olympique Lyonnais are a point and a place behind Les Dogues, after a pivotal dismissal in their meeting with Paris Saint-Germain FC. Mevlüt Erdinç put the visitors ahead but Mamadou Sakho's red card just after the hour changed the complexion of the match and late goals from Bafétimbi Gomis and Cris turned things around for Lyon. Behind Claude Puel's men only on goal difference, AS Monaco FC defeated OGC Nice 3-2 in their own derby.

Auxerre advance
Unbeaten in seven Ligue 1 encounters, AJ Auxerre jumped up to sixth by seeing off AS Saint-Etienne 1-0, while Stade Rennais FC overcame bottom club Grenoble Foot 38 4-0, all their goals coming before Hugo Cianci's 65th-minute sending off. Toulouse FC won 3-1 at third-from-bottom Le Mans UC 72, AS Nancy-Lorraine downed FC Lorient 1-0 and Valenciennes FC drew 1-1 with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.