Lyon step up title challenge

French champions Olympique Lyonnais moved to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders AS Monaco FC with a 2-1 win at fourth-placed FC Sochaux Montbéliard tonight.

Significant success
With the leaders facing a potentially tricky away game at AJ Auxerre on Sunday, Paul Le Guen's side stepped up their title challenge with three important points. The UEFA Champions League quarterfinalists made a perfect start at Sochaux as Juninho Pernambucano's cross was headed into the net by fellow Brazilian Giovane Elber in only the third minute.

Edmílson excitement
However, the home side drew level in the 28th minute when striker Santos sidestepped two defenders and shot in from the edge of the penalty area. Victory was clinched for the visitors midway through the half by Brazilian defender Edmílson, whose diverted free-kick ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.

Slender win
Third-placed Paris Saint-Germain FC bolstered their own title aspirations with a slender 1-0 victory at Le Mans UC 72, with the only goal of the game arriving in the 66th minute as a slip from Le Mans centre-back Yannick Fischer allowed striker Danijel Ljuboja to score.

Lead wasted
FC Nantes Atlantique squandered a 2-0 lead at home to FC Metz, with Mehdi Meniri and Toifilou Maoulida striking in the second half to earn a draw for the visitors after Viorel Moldovan and Sylvain Armand had given Nantes a two-goal cushion.

Three for Chalme
Goals from Christophe Meslin, Lilian Laslandes and Everson helped OGC Nice to a 3-1 win at home to Stade Rennais FC, while RC Lens and SC Bastia played out a scoreless draw and midfield player Mathieu Chalme scored a hat-trick in Lille OSC's 3-0 win against AC Ajaccio.

Leroy treble
Jérôme Leroy also scored three goals as EA Guingamp defeated Montpellier Hérault SC 4-3 to edge out of the relegation zone. On Sunday, Olympique de Marseille and FC Girondins de Bordeaux will be seeking to close the gap on the leading sides at home to RC Strasbourg and away at Toulouse FC respectively.