Rennes end 40-year wait to scale French summit

Rennes reached the top of the French first division for the first time since 1970 on Sunday after winning 3-1 at home to fellow early-season pace-setters Toulouse.

Both sides were bidding to take over at the top of Ligue 1, but it was the hosts who struck first when full-back Romain Danze netted with a crisp rising strike from the edge of the box shortly prior to the interval.

Rennes had been content to play on the counter-attack for much of the first period but they stepped up their attacking efforts after the break, with Sylvain Marveaux twice going close to making it 2-0.

Frederic Antonetti’s side doubled their advantage in the 77th minute when unmarked captain Kader Mangane headed in Jerome Leroy’s inswinging free-kick, before Marveaux made the points safe four minutes later with a penalty.

France international midfielder Moussa Sissoko notched a consolation for Toulouse two minutes before full-time.

“The fans have been waiting for this for a long time,” said Rennes defensive midfielder Yann Mvila.

“We had the chance to set a benchmark tonight and we’ve done it. We deserve this first place. We have a complete team.”

The result means Rennes will take a one-point lead over second-placed Saint-Etienne into the international break, with Toulouse slipping to fourth.

Earlier, Paris Saint-Germain squandered the opportunity to climb into the top three when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Nice.

The hosts saw more of the ball in attacking areas throughout the match, with French international striker Guillaume Hoarau drawing two good saves from Nice goalkeeper David Ospina in the first 45 minutes.

Nice came close to snatching the lead early in the second half, but with Emerse Fae poised to head the ball into the net after PSG keeper Apoula Edel missed a cross, Clement Chantome intervened to put the ball behind for a corner.

PSG are on a fine run of form, having opened up a three-point lead in their Europa League group by beating Ukrainians Karpaty Lviv 2-0 on Thursday, and they threatened again when Nene flashed a shot across goal and wide.

Nene went close again in the 85th minute, after attacking a low Stephane Sessegnon cross at the back post, but Ospina bravely threw himself at the Brazilian’s feet to preserve Nice’s point.

“We had chances. It’s a shame, but that’s the game,” said Nene.

“It’s not a setback. It’s just that you can’t win every time.”

The draw moves PSG above arch-rivals Marseille into seventh place, while Nice remain 13th.

Lille took advantage of PSG’s profligacy to steal into third place, after a Moussa Sow double set them on the way to a 3-1 win at home to Montpellier.

Sow put the home side ahead in the 19th minute and then restored Lille’s advantage with a 31st-minute lob after Olivier Giroud had equalised from the penalty spot.

Ivory Coast international Gervinho capped victory with Lille’s third goal 10 minutes from time.

“We’re on a positive run,” said Lille coach Rudi Garcia.

“I owe it to myself to be demanding. When I think there’s a possibility of winning, I say so. My job is to tell them.”

The big match of the Ligue 1 weekend saw former leaders Saint-Etienne held to a 1-1 draw by champions Marseille at a sold-out Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday night.

Lyon picked up only their second win of the campaign with a 3-2 success at Nancy, enabling them to climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference.