France round-up: PSG left behind by top two

Paris Saint-Germain FC lost ground on the top two in France after picking up only a goalless draw while RC Lens and Olympique Lyonnais won their games.

No way through
Third-placed PSG went into their match at Montpellier Hérault SC in a run of excellent form but were unable to find a way past their hosts. In fact, it was Montpellier who dominated Saturday’s match but they could not make their superiority tell.

Pole position
Lens remain in pole position after managing a 1-0 win at home against AS Monaco to preserve their unbeaten record at the Félix-Bollaert stadium this season. Antoine Sibierski scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute and Monaco’s misery was completed by an injury-time dismissal for Cyril Rool.

Normal service resumed
Lyon remain eight points behind Lens in second place despite coming from behind to earn a convincing 4-1 win against FC Metz. Gérald Baticle put Metz in front but Lyon resumed normal service four minutes later when Eric Carrière converted Sidney Govou’s cross.

Brilliant second from Govou
The rest of the goals came in the second half, with Govou scoring a brilliant second for his team, powering the ball into the corner of the net in the 59th minute. Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson converted Carrière’s neat pass five minutes from time but there was still time for Pegguy Luyindula to make it four.

Two off
Lille OSC went down 1-0 in Corsica at the hands of SC Bastia, with Patrick Beneforti securing victory in the 55th minute. Bastia had captain Cyril Jeunechamp sent off two minutes from the end and LOSC lost Grégory Tafforeau to a red card in stoppage time.
 
Pauleta pair
FC Girondins de Bordeaux saw off bottom club FC Lorient 2-1 with Pedro Pauleta scoring a goal in each half for the home team. Pauleta hit the first from the penalty spot in the 16th minute and won the match with an injury-time winner. In between, Lorient scored through Jean-Claude Darcheville, and then saw their goalscorer dismissed in the 64th minute.

Troyes held
ES Troyes Aube Champagne were held 1-1 by Stade Rennais FC. Patrice Loko scored in the 16th minute for the hosts but Christophe Le Roux equalised with a penalty 20 minutes later. Saturday’s other matches saw En Avant Guingamp and AJ Auxerre play out a goalless draw while CS Sedan-Ardennes were 2-1 winners over FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.