Lille close on Ligue 1 leaders with Toulouse win

LOSC Lille Métropole moved within four points of the Ligue 1 summit with a 2-1 defeat of Toulouse FC.

Three points clear of fourth-placed Toulouse at the start of the day, the defending champions were given the perfect start after 12 minutes when Eden Hazard scored his fifth goal in five games from the penalty spot. Dimitri Payet added a second just after the half-hour, and although Serge Aurier got a goal back for the visitors, they then lost Pantxi Sirieix to a late red card.

The result was Lille's third consecutive win and lifted Rudi Garcia's side closer to joint leaders Montpellier Hérault SC, who boast a game in hand, and Paris Saint-Germain FC. At the other end of the table, neither SM Caen nor AC Ajaccio could muster a goal to ease their respective relegation fears in their meeting.

In the late kick-off, Olympique Lyonnais took advantage of Toulouse's defeat to leapfrog them into fourth on goal difference following a 1-1 draw at Stade Rennais FC. Mevlüt Erdinç (5) gave Rennes an early lead, but Lisandro's 76th-minute strike ensured the spoils were shared.