Jussie sends Bordeaux clear but OM lurk

A second-half strike by Brazilian midfielder Jussie earned French league leaders Bordeaux a 1-0 win at Montpellier on Wednesday that increased their lead at the summit to six points.

Marseille were indebted to 18-year-old debutant Jordan Ayew for earning a 2-1 comeback win at Lorient that lifted them up to second, while Lyon bounced back from their defeat at home to Bordeaux on Sunday by winning 2-0 at home to second-bottom Boulogne to go fourth.

Montpellier enjoyed the best of the game’s early exchanges at their Stade de la Mosson home but Yoann Gourcuff missed a golden opportunity to put the visitors in front when he placed a weak 30th-minute penalty into the arms of Geoffrey Jourdren after a handball in the hosts’ penalty area.

Cedric Carrasso kept the away team on level terms with a fine reflex stop from Alberto Costa early in the second period before Jussie fired Bordeaux ahead just before the hour, breezing past a defender on the edge of the penalty area and dispatching a firm strike into the bottom-right corner.

Rene Girard’s Montpellier had not previously been beaten at home since returning to the top flight this season but they were unable to find a way back into the game despite dominating possession in the final stages.

Defending champions Bordeaux head the division on 37 points, with Marseille and Montpellier, both of whom have a game in hand, six and seven points back respectively.

Marama Vahirua gave Lorient the lead from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute at home to Marseille but Ayew, the son of Ghana great Abedi Pele, converted Bakary Kone’s cross in the 68th minute to mark his first senior appearance with a goal.

A draw would have taken Marseille into third place but they kept pushing and in injury time ex-Bordeaux man Souleymane Diawara gave the visitors all three points with a header from Lucho Gonzalez’s free-kick.

In the night’s other matches, Monaco won 1-0 at home to Rennes, Nancy beat Nice 2-0 and Le Mans clambered out of the relegation zone by defeating rock-bottom Grenoble 1-0.

Paris Saint Germain welcome in-form Lens to the Parc des Princes in Wednesday’s late kick-off and the capital side can move as high as fifth in the table with victory.

In Tuesday’s only Ligue 1 match, Valenciennes were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Auxerre.