Toulouse prolong Auxerre woes

Toulouse moved up to 11th place in the French first division on Sunday after consigning Auxerre to their first defeat in six league matches with a 2-1 victory at Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps.

Auxerre were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of Champions League elimination at the hands of AC Milan in mid-week, but they fell behind in the eighth minute.

Daniel Braaten raced onto a flick-on down the Toulouse right flank and held off the challenge of Jean-Pascal Mignot before slipping the ball past Olivier Sorin at the near post.

Julien Quercia hit the woodwork as Auxerre sought an equaliser, before Federico Santander, 19, crashed home the rebound after Moussa Sissoko’s shot was saved by Sorin to claim his first goal for the club and put TFC 2-0 up.

Alain Traore pulled one back for Auxerre in the second half following a superb dribble down the left from Quercia, but the visitors withstood late pressure to end an unwelcome run of three straight league defeats.

In the day’s other early game, Sochaux won 3-0 at second-bottom Caen — without a win in nine games — to climb above Lorient into ninth place.

Lyon meet Paris Saint-Germain in the weekend’s showpiece match at Stade Gerland later on Sunday, with a place at the top of the standings up for grabs for the victors.

A win for Lyon would move them level on points with leaders Marseille, while PSG could go a point clear at the summit if they take all three points.

Defending champions Marseille went top for the first time this season after winning 4-0 at home to Montpellier on Saturday, despite losing right-back Cesar Azpilicueta to a serious knee ligament injury early in the game.

Goals from Lucho Gonzalez and Benoit Cheyrou put the hosts 2-0 up at the break, with in-form France winger Mathieu Valbuena and Loic Remy completing a comfortable victory with second-half strikes.

Lille slipped off top spot after drawing 1-1 at Bordeaux, while Rennes have now won just one of their last six leagues games following a 2-0 defeat at Brittany rivals Lorient.