Berbatov brilliance helps Monaco sink Nice

Dimitar Berbatov was the star as AS Monaco FC downed OGC Nice 1-0 to move back within seven points of Ligue 1 pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain and eight clear of LOSC Lille, who drew 0-0 at Olympique de Marseille.

With Paris lifting the French League Cup yesterday, Claudio Ranieri's second-placed Monaco grasped their opportunity to shorten the lead, with Bulgarian forward Berbatov getting the only goal of the game via an outstanding lob from a tight angle after just five minutes.

Valère Germain struck the post for the hosts shortly after, but one goal proved enough for victory. The result leaves Paris needing two wins from their last five matches to retain their title, and they contest their game in hand at home against Évian Thonon Gaillard FC on Wednesday.

Monaco's success also strengthened their hold on France's last automatic UEFA Champions League berth, with LOSC unable to prevail in a tight encounter at sixth-placed Marseille. Elsewhere, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, in seventh, ended a run of five successive draws by seeing off EA Guingamp 5-1, Cheick Diabaté hitting a hat-trick, while Serge Gakpe scored twice as FC Nantes won 6-2 at Valenciennes FC.

As for Montpellier Hérault SC, they gave up a 4-1 lead at FC Lorient in the last three minutes, drawing 4-4 after losing goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren to a red card close to the half-hour. Third-bottom FC Sochaux-Montbéliard recorded a 1-0 victory at Stade de Reims, while basement side AC Ajaccio were relegated following a 2-1 loss to Corsican rivals SC Bastia.