Lethal Lyon extend lead

By Chris Burke

Olympique Lyonnais resisted a late onslaught from visitors AJ Auxerre to record a 2-1 win that took the French champions six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Early lead
Lyon made an excellent start against the Burgundy club with Sylvain Wiltord heading in Sidney Govou's cross in the fifth minute for his first league goal of the season. His strike set the tone for a first half dominated by the French champions, who doubled their advantage through Juninho Pernambucano on the half hour.

Cheyrou lifeline
Just as Lyon seemed to have the win wrapped up, Benoît Cheyrou gave the away side a lifeline in the 66th minute as he halved the deficit, the first goal Paul Le Guen's team had conceded at Stade Gerland since mid-August. Lyon nevertheless held on to leave Guy Roux's men eleven points behind the leaders in the title race, while second-placed LOSC Lille Métropole face RC Strasbourg tomorrow.

Marseille moving up
Watching from the stands after signing an 18-month contract with Olympique de Marseille, Philippe Troussier saw his new team jump up into fifth place thanks to a 3-1 win against FC Nantes Atlantique. Abdoulaye Meité opened the scoring on 15 minutes for his first top-flight goal, before Fabrice Fiorèse volleyed in six minutes later. Gilles Yapi-Yapo brought Nantes back into the game in the second half, but the visitors then lost Alexander Viveros to a red card and Steve Marlet put the result beyond doubt in added time.

Goalless draws
There was frustration for the two sides below Marseille, as FC Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Monaco FC could only manage goalless draws. Bordeaux were held at home by an AC Ajaccio side guided by former Bordeaux coach Rolland Courbis, while Monaco failed to convert a string of good chances away to Toulouse FC. Didier Deschamps' side are now 13 points behind Lyon in seventh position, having not won in the league since 22 September.

Bastia victory
At the bottom of the table, SC Bastia climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory at home to SM Caen, with Malian midfield player Djibril Sidibé and Tony Vairelles on target in the Corsican side's first victory in eleven games. AS Saint-Etienne confirmed their own recovery by twice equalising to earn a 2-2 draw away to FC Metz, with Vincent Hognon having the last word for 'Les Verts'. The was no such luck for bottom club FC Istres, though, as two goals from Olivier Sorlin either side of an Olivier Monterrubio penalty helped Stade Rennais FC to a 3-1 home win, Steven Pelé getting Istres's consolation.