France round-up: Nothing to spare at the top

AS Monaco FC and Olympique de Marseille remained level on points at the top of Ligue 1 after both secured away victories.

Temporary advantage
Marseille had temporarily taken over at the top after a late goal from defender Daniel van Buyten gave them a narrow 2-1 victory at Montpellier Hérault SC in Saturday’s early game. Marseille took the lead after 22 minutes as striker Lamine Sakho opened the scoring with a clever lob from inside the penalty area, but the struggling home side drew level 20 minutes from time through midfield player Jean-Christophe Rouvière.

Decisive goal
It seemed as if the two sides would share the points, but Belgian international defender Van Buyten scored from a corner kick by Salomon Olembé six minutes before the final whistle to seal all three points for the away team.

First-half goals
However, Monaco joined Marseille on 55 points with a resounding 3-0 victory at Le Havre AC. Didier Deschamps’s side scored three times in six minutes inside the opening half-hour to virtually secure the three points, with Shabani Nonda opening the scoring from the penalty spot after 23 minute following Le Havre defender Souleymane Diawara’s foul on Davor Prso.

Prso on target
Prso was also involved in Monaco’s next two goals, scoring his side’s second after 27 minutes and creating the third for defender Patrice Evra two minutes later.

Bordeaux frustrated
FC Girondins de Bordeaux lost ground on the leading group as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by FC Nantes Atlanique. In a tight game with few chances, the home side came the closest to scoring, but Portuguese striker Pauleta’s 70th-minute header from a Nicolas Sahnoun cross forced Nantes goalkeeper Mickael Landreau to produce a fine save.

Sochaux success
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard moved into fifth place with a 3-1 win at RC Strasbourg. Goals either side of half-time from Johan Lonfat and Mickaël Pagis put the away side in control and, although Strasbourg pulled a goal back after 72 minutes through striker Pena, defender Valerien Ismael's own goal four minutes from time sealed Sochaux’s win.

PSG into seventh
Paris Saint-Germain FC enjoyed a 2-0 win at home to CS Sedan-Ardennes, with second-half goals from Mauricio Pochettino and Stéphane Pédron ensuring the capital club moved into seventh place. Meanwhile, despite heavy pressure, AJ Auxerre were held to a 0-0 draw at home by RC Lens.

Three important points
Struggling AC Ajaccio secured a crucial win at home to Stade Rennais FC, with Grégory Lacombe scoring the only goal of the game, but ES Troyes Aube Champagne remained bottom of the table after goals from Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda sealed a 2-0 win for En Avant Guingamp. The match between Lille OSC and SC Bastia ended 1-1.

Sunday action
Champions Olympique Lyonnais, currently in third, have the chance to return to within a single point of the top two on Sunday when they visit OGC Nice.