Marseille top the table on tragic Saturday

Saturday's French first division programme was overshadowed by a coach crash which left two Marseille fans dead and four seriously injured.

A minute's silence was held at the former European champions' fixture at Le Havre in tribute to the victims of the accident earlier in the day involving a supporters' bus.

Marseille chairman Pape Diouf laid flowers on the edge of the pitch in the presence of the wife and son of one of the dead supporters.

The southcoast giants went on to beat the northcoast port side 1-0, the only goal of the subdued fixture coming in the 56th minute from a freekick taken by midfielder Boudewijn Zenden.

An emotional Marseille manager Eric Gerets told a post match press conference: 'There are games when you can speak about football. There are matches where a win makes you feel good. But today is definitely not one of those days.”

Gerets, who said au revoir to striker Djibril Cisse who was loaned out to Premier League outfit Sunderland this week, added: “We've lost two players. They weren't on the pitch but they were are 12th man. And that hurts.”

Diouf said: “We've experienced a terrible drama, something that will stay in our memory for a long time.

“The football was secondary. I said beforehand that win or lose we wouldn't be leaving Le Havre satisfied. I must pay tribute to the (Le Havre) fans who showed respect to Marseille's pain.”

The win lifted Eric Gerets' men on to seven points at the top of the table where they were joined later by Lyon, who beat Grenoble 2-0 in Saturday's late kick off.

The goals came from Jean II Makoun, who gave them an early lead when totally unmarked he headed in Swedish international Kim Kallstrom's corner, and Karim Benzema, in the sixth and 37th minutes.

Third-placed Le Mans ran out 1-0 winners over Saint Etienne with fourth-placed Valenciennes, without their skipper David Sommeil who is recovering in hospital after suffering a heart problem in midweek training, owing their lofty position to a resounding 3-1 home victory against Lorient.

Gregory Pujol set them on their way with a third minute strike with Johan Audel adding a second on the half hour and Belgian forward Luigi Pieroni completing the scoring one minute from time.

Sharing six points with Le Mans and Valenciennes are Grenoble.

Paris Saint Germain, who narrowly escaped demotion last term, fielded new signing Mateja Kezman for their away trip to Sochaux which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Kezman made his mark on his debut, but not how the Serbia international who arrived on loan from Fenerbahce, would have liked.

He was involved in a clash with Damien Perquis in the 85th minute when his elbow accidentally hit the Sochaux defender on the face. With blood pouring from his nose, Perquis was stretchered off for treatment.

Turkish striker Mevlut Erding put the home side in front with a 49th-minute penalty only for Stephane Sessegnon to level just after the hour marker to leave Paul Le Guen's capital club placed eighth.

Caen came away from their visit to Monaco also with a 1-1 draw.

Nineteen-year-old striker Frederic Nimani put the principality side in front in the 52nd minute but a 74th minute own goal from Croatia midfielder Jerko Leko gave the visitors a share of the spoils.

Toulouse's trip to Nancy resulted in a goalless draw.

Sunday's menu sees Auxerre and Rennes host Nice and Lille respectively with Nantes on the road away to a Bordeaux side seeking to bounce back after suffering a defeat away to PSG last weekend.