Lyon enforce title credentials as Marseille stun Bordeaux

Champions Lyon and unlikely title-chasers Paris Saint Germain emerged the biggest winners of what continues to be a thrilling run-in to the French championship finale.

A day after PSG battered Nantes 4-1 to close the gap to Lyon, the seven-time champions demolished Nice 3-1 on the south coast to go four points clear of second-placed Bordeaux.

Bordeaux’s bid to close the gap again in Sunday’s late match ended in a 1-0 defeat at Marseille. They remain four points adrift on 42 points alongside PSG and Marseille in fourth on 41.

What has arguably been one of the matches of the season ended in disaster for Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux side who went down at the Stade Velodrome thanks to an own goal from midfielder Marouane Chamakh.

Bordeaux started with intent with the sublime Yoann Gourcuff rolling a backheeler into Chamakh’s path in the fourth minute, but his shot went wide of Steve Mandanda’s far post.

Both sides spurned a series of chances to score in the first half, with Sylvain Wiltord sending a low header from a rebound off keeper Ulrich Rame’s foot over the bar and Argentine Fernando Cavenaghi being denied by Mandanda’s hand after he ran through on goal.

The pace continued in the second half, but Marseille’s opener came in unexpected fashion with Chamakh, standing alone in front of his keeper, inexplicably aiming a header from a corner past the stunned Rame and into the net.

Gourcuff and Cavenaghi spurned further chances for Bordeaux and while Sylvain Wiltord came close a second time Marseille’s new signing, Brandao, contrived to miss the net with the several chances he was given.

Lyon had earlier dominated a Nice side which lost two of their recent signings to red cards in the closing stages.

Midfielder Jean Makoun gave Lyon an 18th minute lead and only 10 minutes later the writing was on the wall for Nice when striker Karim Benzema, who missed a penalty, capitalised on a hesitant defence to burst through and blast the ball past keeper David Ospina.

Onyekachi Apam scored in first half injury time for the hosts, but any chance they had of sharing the spoils was compromised when Julien Sable was red-carded in the 57th minute.

Makoun headed home his second in the 80th minute and five minutes later Nice also lost Adeilson to a red card.

Lyon coach Claude Puel is keeping coy about winning an eight successive crown – especially as they face Bordeaux next week

“It was the result we needed to stay on top of the table,” he said. “We’re still on track and we will just keeping trying to fulfil our objectives.

“Now I’d love us to take all three points at the Gerland stadium.”

On Saturday, former France international forward Ludovic Giuly struck twice as PSG continued their title bid – given they just escaped relegation last season – with a 4-1 drubbing of Nantes.

Ex-Barcelona forward Giuly fired past Jerome Alonzo in the 12th minute and strike partner Peguy Luyindula doubled their lead eight minutes later.

Djamel Abdoun scored from the penalty spot on 36 minutes to reduce arrears but a Giuly strike five minutes after the restart allowed Paul Le Guen’s side some breathing space before a scorcher from Stephane Sessegnon on 71 minutes.