Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille thrash Montpellier, Lille held to draw

Reigning champions Marseille moved to the top of the French Ligue 1 standings with a 4-0 home win over third-placed Montpellier on Saturday.

Goals to Lucho Gonzalez and Benoit Cheyrou gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break, and two more from Mathieu Valbuena and Loic Remy completed the rout.

The win moved Marseille to 25 points from their 14 games meaning they take top spot on goal difference from second-placed Lille.

The win came at a high price though, with right-back Cesar Azpilicueta coming off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury after just 15 minutes.

Lille could have retained the Ligue 1 lead, but they were held to a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux.

The visitors looked to be on track for a win when striker Moussa Sow gave them the lead 10 minutes from half-time, but an own goal from defender Adil Rami ensured a share of the spoils for Jean Tigana’s Bordeaux side, who climbed to sixth place.

Monaco gained a much-needed point with a 1-1 draw at home against Nice but they should have claimed all three after Nice right-back Drissa Diakite was sent off after just 26 minutes.

Park Chu-young put the hosts ahead with 15 minutes to play, but Eric Mouloungui equalised 10 minutes later.

The point moved Monaco to 17th position on 15 points, just one clear of the relegation zone, while Nice are just two ahead of them in 16th place.

Nancy scored a 1-1 draw at home against St Etienne, while Lorient moved to ninth place with a 2-0 home win over fifth-placed Rennes.

Valenciennes moved to 13th position with a 3-0 home win over bottom side Arles.

The match between seventh-placed Brest and second-from-bottom Lens will need to be replayed after it was abandoned at half-time – with the score 0-0 – due to heavy snow.