Giroud stars as Montpellier stretch advantage

Montpellier Hérault SC continue to set the pace in Ligue 1 after a 4-0 defeat of FC Lorient though LOSC Lille Métropole kept up the pressure with an exciting 3-2 victory at AC Ajaccio.

League top scorer Olivier Giroud was the star for Montpellier, setting up three of their goals and claiming the other himself to take his season's tally to 12. Geoffrey Dernis was first to benefit from Giroud's creativity before the break and after the striker doubled the lead on 47 minutes he turned provider for both John Utaka and substitute Rémi Cabella.

Lille, warming up for Wednesday's decisive UEFA Champions League visit of Trabzonspor AŞ, are five points behind Montpellier in second following their defeat of bottom side Ajaccio clinched by Eden Hazard's 80th-minute penalty. Stade Rennais FC began the day level with Lille but lost 2-0 at lowly OGC Nice. Paris Saint-Germain FC can return to within three points of Montpellier if they defeat AJ Auxerre on Sunday.

AS Saint-Étienne needed two Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalisers to hold Stade Brestois 29 2-2 while Valenciennes FC remain in trouble following a 2-1 loss at Évian Thonon Gaillard FC. Dijon FCO and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard drew 0-0.