Ligue 1 wrap: Montpellier go three points clear

Montpellier maintained their title charge with an impressive 2-1 win over Sochaux on Saturday to go three points clear of PSG in Ligue 1.

Only a string of fine saves from Sochaux keeper Pierrick Cros saved the visitors’ blushes with Younes Belhanda and Souleymane Camara on target for the south-coast club.

Belhanda opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a fine counter-attacking move but Modibo Maiga equalised shortly before the half-hour with Sochaux’s only shot on target.

Camara poked home from close range to secure all three points for the leaders ahead of PSG’s match with Marseille on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Lille’s title aspirations took a huge blow with the reigning champions losing 3-1 at Brest.

A spectacular Omar Daf strike and Bruno Grougi penalty inside ten minutes put the Brittany side well in control.

Dimitri Payet hit back for the visitors in the 27th minute but when Alexandre Alphonse’s shot went in off the post for Brest, seven minutes after the break, it was all over.

The home side put in a clinical performance and made the most of their seven shots on goal. Lille’s woes were compounded when striker Tulio de Melo was sent off with 19 minutes to play.

Two Lisandro Lopez penalties ensured Lyon stepped up their challenge for a Champions League place with a 2-1 home win over bottom club Auxerre.

A dramatic late double strike earned Rennes a 3-1 victory at Evian with Mevlut Erdinc and an own goal from Aldo Angoula in the last two minutes disrupting parity.

Bakaye Traore scored both goals – the first six minutes in, the second six minutes from time – for Dijon as they beat Nancy 2-0 while Valenciennes won by the same score line at home to Toulouse.

The loss was a costly one for Toulouse as Lyon jumped ahead into fourth.

In the other fixture, Ajaccio picked up what could be a vital point in their battle against relegation with Carl Medjani’s 78th-minute strike earning 1-1 draw with St Etienne.