Top spot in sight after Marseille win in Toulouse

Olympique de Marseille moved second, level on points with Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais, thanks to a 1-0 defeat of nine-man Toulouse FC.

OM's prospects looked bright when Toulouse were reduced to ten in the 27th minute, Cheick Mbengué's foul earning him a straight red card. The visitors pressed to exploit the situation and Jordan Ayew was felled in the area shortly after. His brother, André, stepped up to take the spot kick, but Ali Ahamada was equal to it. Any optimism was short-lived, however, as Les Mauves et Blancs winger Franck Tabanou became the second player to be dismissed in an eventful opening half.

It took until the 68th minute for OM to break the deadlock, but the goal was worth the wait. André-Pierre Gignac, making his second substitute appearance following a six-week injury lay-off, cut into the area from the left and curled a fine effort into the top-right corner. Marseille held on and await the outcome of Lyon's game in hand, at third-placed Paris Saint-Germain FC on Sunday.

In Saturday's late fixtures, OGC Nice, two down after 14 minutes, recovered to defeat Évian Thonon Gaillard FC 3-2 and climb to fourth. Montpellier Hérault SC were the night's big winners, 4-0 versus SC Bastia, while ES Troyes Aube Champagne moved off the foot of the table after withstanding a late fightback from AC Ajaccio.