Nene double buries Lens

A double from Spanish-Brazilian midfielder Nene handed Monaco a 2-0 win over Lens and allowed the Principality side to reclaim fourth spot in the French league standings from Marseille on Sunday.

Nene put himself top of the French league goalscorers list following a performance which underlines both his and his club’s ambitions this term.

A solid if uninspiring performance by Guy Lacombe’s side leaves Lens stuck in the relegation zone.

The northerners had got off to an attacking start with Sebastien Roudet having their first shot at goal after eight minutes.

But Monaco would quickly regain the upper hand with Nene picking up a cross from the left to fire in his sixth goal of the season after ten minutes.

Monaco could have gone two-up before the break following a corner from Nene but Vedran Runje held firm in the Lens goal keeping out a fine header from Adriano.

After the break Monaco were happy to sit back on their advantage with the odd foray forward.

South Korean striker Park Chu-young picked up a cross from Ivorian striker Jean-Jacques Gosso after 58 minutes but Runje once again proved solid.

The hosts were awarded a penalty after 66 minutes after Park was fouled in the box by Romain Sartre. Nene stepped up to slot home his seventh league goal to put the result beyond a doubt.

Elsewhere, Lorient gave warning that they are not be ruled out of the championship chase as they easily saw off Nice 4-1.

A goal from midfielder Arnold Mvuemba six minutes before the break and a second from Marama Vahirua after their return to the pitch set Lorient on their way against their outclassed rivals.

A Loic Remy free-kick on 61 minutes put the brakes on the Lorient charge but not for long with Sigamary Diarra scoring their third after 77 minutes and Kevin Gameiro grabbing a fourth a minute from time.

Lorient now have 17 points, to move level with sixth-placed Marseille who are ahead on goal difference after roaring past Nancy 3-0 on Saturday with goals from Matthieu Valbuena, Brandao and Fabrice Abriel.

Nice remain second from bottom, equal on eight points with Lens.

Paris Saint Germain travel to Toulouse for Sunday’s late match.

On Saturday, Bordeaux’s hopes of landing a second successive French title suffered a blow when they slid to a surprise loss at Auxerre, while the side they deposed as champions, Lyon, went down at home to Sochaux.

Bordeaux’s 1-0 reverse at the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps was equally out of character in that it came on the back of a lacklustre loss two weeks ago at St Etienne.

Despite their greater creativity Bordeaux were lacking a cutting edge in the final third of the field and paid for their complacency when Auxerre took their penalty chance when it fell their way rather fortuitously on 72 minutes.

Valter Birsa sent keeper Cedric Carrasso the wrong way with his strike after Mickael Ciano was harshly adjudged to have fouled Cedric Hengbart in the box.

The loss left Bordeaux a point behind Lyon, who have 20 points from their nine games after they inexplicably slumped at 2-0 home to Sochaux for their first loss of the campaign.

Montpellier edged St Etienne 2-1 with Karim Ait Fana 54 and Souleymane Camara on target to lift the southerners level on points with Lyon.