Lille beat Lyon 4-0 to boost their European hopes, as other challengers slipped up.
Lille inflicted Lyon with their heaviest defeat of the season as the battle for the final UEFA Champions League spot dominated proceedings in France's penultimate round of matches.Geoffrey Dernis (35) broke the deadlock for Lille, before the game was settled as a contest by two goals in the space of three minutes from Peter Odemwingie (pictured) shortly after half time. Jean Makoun added some late gloss to the scoreline (86) to keep Claude Puel's side in pole position in the race for third.
Their hopes were further boosted by results elsewhere, as nearest challengers Marseille, Rennes and Lens all drew.
Samir Nasri (47) put Marseille in front against Strasbourg, but the relegated side hit back quickly, moving into a surprise lead courtesy of strikes from Yacine Abdessadki (52) and Rudy Carlier (68). L'OM levelled through Franck Ribery (73) but could not force a winner.
Rennes and Lens were both held to goalless draws on their travels, Laszlo Boloni's side continuing to falter against St Etienne and Lens coming unstuck at Le Mans.
Auxerre moved back into contention for a Uefa Cup place by beating Nancy 3-1. Luigi Pieroni (18) and Yann Lachuer (40) fired them into a 2-0 lead and although Andre Luiz pulled one back (86) it proved to be a false dawn as Thomas Kahlenberg sealed the points in the last minute.
Second-placed Bordeaux continued to impress, a Jean-Claude Darcheville penalty (78) handing them a 1-0 victory at Nantes.
On-loan Manchester United striker David Bellion - soon to make his move permanent - kept up his rich vein of form for Nice, scoring his side's second in the 2-1 win over bottom club Metz. Laurent Agouazzi (22) had given Metz a shock early lead, but Sammy Traore (57) and Bellion (65) turned the game on its head.
Lowly Ajaccio beat Paris Saint Germain 4-2 in a thriller at the Parc des Princes. Mario Yepes (31) and Pedro Pauleta (53) were on target for the home side, but Kamel Chafni (19 and 61) bagged a brace for Ajaccio and Djamel Abdoun (59) and Mathieu Scarpelli (89) also found the back of the net to secure a morale-boosting three points.
Two sides who narrowly escaped relegation, Sochaux and Troyes, played out a 1-1 draw. Rabiu Afolabi (19) opened the scoring for Sochaux, but they were denied three points by a stoppage time equaliser from Sebastien Grax (90).
In the day's final game Toulouse and Monaco shared six goals at the Stadium Municipal.
Francileudo Santos (30) gave Toulouse the initial advantage, before Serge Gakpe (38), Manuel Dos Santos (40) and Ernesto Chevanton (57) netted for Monaco. The home side recovered their poise in the last few minutes though and levelled through Daniel Moreira (83 penalty) and Nicolas Dieuze (88).
Click below for match summaries
Le Mans 0-0 Lens
Lille 4-0 Lyon
Marseille 2-2 Strasbourg
Nancy 1-3 Auxerre
Nantes 0-1 Bordeaux
Nice 2-1 Metz
PSG 2-4 AC Ajaccio
Sochaux 1-1 Troyes
St Etienne 0-0 Rennes
Toulouse 3-3 Monaco
