Fred keeps Lyon ahead of pack

A goal from Brazilian Fred preserved Lyon’s four-point lead at the top of the French league table Saturday with a 1-0 win at struggling Monaco.

With second-placed Marseille flattening Grenoble 3-0 away, Lyon could not afford to let points slip away at the Stade Louis II stadium and Fred’s neat poacher’s finish from a Kim Kallstrom, near-post cross ten minutes after the break sufficed for the win.

Claude Puel’s side, chasing an eighth straight league title, have on occasion looked less assured than in previous seasons but were bolstered by the returns from injury of experienced France striker Sidney Govou and Fabio Santos.

Kallstrom twice went close in the opening half hour and Jeremy Toulalan then squandered an opportunity against a Monaco side whose defence was generally well-marshalled by Cameroon youngster Nicolas Nkoulou.

Monaco were unlucky when Lyon defender Anthony Reveillere appeared to handle in the area two minutes before the interval but the visitors got away with it and Fred then seized his chance for only his second goal of the campaign.

Lyon now have 30 points from 13 games while Marseille stayed in the hunt after swatting promoted Grenoble with goals from Hatem Ben Arfa – his sixth of the season – and Baky Kone before the break and then a clincher from Benoit Cheyrou eight minutes from time.

Ben Arfa, who joined Marseille from Lyon in the summer, insisted his new side were fully capable of overhauling his old one.

“We are right in the title fight. We’ve won 3-0 away and that’s never easy. We have a great team which has a huge amount of unrealised potential. When we get there, we’ll be really tough to halt.”

Coach Eric Gerets was likewise happy to get the points as “I felt sure that Lyon and Bordeaux would beat Monaco and Auxerre. It’s a job well done.”

Bordeaux stay third, two points behind Marseille, after Fernando Cavenaghi hit his seventh goal of the season and Marouane Chamakh added a second to see off Auxerre 2-0 in the southwest.

The win was marred, however, by Bordeaux Mathieu Valverde keeper having to be taken to hospital with concussion after a clash of heads with Auxerre striker Dennis Oliech two minutes before half-time.

Third-choice keeper Kevin Olimpa came on with Ulrich Rame already sidelined through a groin strain.

“The least we could do was ensure we got the win, which I have dedicated to him,” said Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc.

“That’s two keepers injured. I’ll have to see if (goalkeeping coach) Dominique Dropsy is still licensed to play,” Blanc said wryly with Olimpa, just 20, set to go between the stick for the November 16 meeting against Lyon.

Nice thanked an Olivier Echouafni first-half goal for a 1-0 success at Lorient which keeps the Mediterranean outfit fourth, two points behind Bordeaux.

But Toulouse were hoping to leapfrog Nice and go level with Bordeaux with a win at drop-threatened Nantes in the late kickoff.

On Sunday, Paris St Germain, who won a thriller last month at Marseille, were out to break into the top six by defeating Lille at the Parc des Princes, while Valenciennes were facing UEFA Cup participants Nancy and Saint Etienne were hosting Rennes.