France round-up: Marseille end long wait

Olympique de Marseille leapfrogged OGC Nice at the top of the French Ligue 1 by defeating CS Sedan-Ardennes 2-1 at the Louis Dugauguez stadium today.

Win needed
The southern side needed a win to reach the summit for the first time in three years and they achieved just that thanks to goals in each half from Manuel Dos Santos and Ibrahima Bakayoko. Henri Camara pulled one back for the home side in the 69th minute but it proved too little too late for Sedan who remain in 14th position in the 20-team table.

Nice at Bordeaux
Marseille now have 34 points from 19 matches, one more than a Nice side who will have a chance to regain the league leadership when they travel to 13th-placed FC Girondins de Bordeaux in one of eight matches which will take place on Sunday.

Fine opening goal
Marseille's third away win this season was achieved on the back of a fine opening goal from Dos Santos in the 39th minute. The defender beat goalkeeper Patrick Regnault from close range following a one-two with Bakayoko. Maker turned scorer in the 49th minute when Bakayoko struck, but Marseille were hanging on at the end after Camara's deflected shot found the net.

Frau influential
In today's other game, Pierre-Alain Frau scored a goal and set up another as FC Sochaux-Montbéliard continued their fine home run with a 2-0 win against SC Bastia. Jean Fernandez's side, still unbeaten on home turf, move to sixth place, one point adrift of second-placed Olympique Lyonnais. Bastia, who have only two points from nine away games, remain 15th in the table.

Pagis opener
Mickaël Pagis opened the scoring after 16 minutes when volleying in a long cross from Frau. The French Under-21 international, set up by Benoît Pedretti, struck the second goal for his team 13 minutes later despite the intervention of Bastia goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau.