With Lyon playing on Sunday it was a chance for Southern rivals Monaco and Marseille to pile on the pressure in the title race and Monaco made no mistake by coming from behind to beat Montpellier at home, and Marseille's eventful 3-0 defeat at Sochaux meant that Didider Deschamps's side moved top.
Title-chasing Monaco suffered a blow at Stade Louis II four minutes into the second half as Mansour Assoumani put visiting Montpellier ahead.
The goal only served to spring the hosts into life and the prolific Shabani Nonda grabbed the first of his brace four minutes later before Dado Prso put Monaco ahead on 73 minutes and Nonda's second completed the win.
Marseille went into their later game knowing that a win would send them above rivals Monaco at the top of the table, but suffered a massive blow to their title hopes with a crushing 3-0 defeat at Sochaux.
Francileudo Santos gave the hosts the lead and Pierre Alain Frau made amends for earlier missing a penalty by doubling the lead on 64 minutes, and things got even worse for Alain Perrin's men when skipper Frank Leboeuf was sent off just a minute later.
Ten-man L'OM had the chance to hit back when they were awarded a penalty but Ibrahima Bakayoko's spot-kick was well saved by Teddy Richert.
A miserable night at Stade Bonal for Marseille got even worse when Daniel van Buyten got a straight red card to send the visitors down to nine man, who then inevitably conceded a third goal from Mickael Isabey late on to cap off a thoroughly disastrous game.
Marseille could now find themselves five points off the pace should Lyon defeat PSG on Sunday, while the two-point gap behind Monaco may also be too much to make up with just two games left to play.
Sochaux's push for a place in Europe is well on course after the impressive when, and they are still mathematically in the title shake-up although that could change with a Lyon victory.
Troyes will be playing their football in Division Two next season after going down to a 1-0 defeat at Felix Bolleart as Daniel Moreira gave Lens the win nine minutes from time to send Troyes down.
Bordeaux kept their European hopes going as they left Le Havre deep in relegation trouble with a 2-0 win at Parc Lescure.
It was the usual suspects of Pedro Pauleta and Jean-Claude Darcheville who did the damage and hand Les Girondins fourth spot, four points behind the leaders, while Le Havre are struggling second from bottom although they are within a point of safety.
Sedan moved a point ahead of Le Havre in the third relegation spot as they came from 2-0 down to rescue a point at home to Bastia.
Laurent Batlles and Florian Maurice put the Corsicans in charge but a brace from Stephane Noro saved a point for Sedan and leaves then level on points with Rennes who are just a place outside the drop zone.
Rennes twice came back from behind but were denied a point by a late strike from Strasbourg to earn them a 3-2 win.
A Petr Cech own goal put the visitors ahead but Dominique Arribage grab the first Rennes equaliser after 23 minutes. Corentin Martins restored Strasbourg's advantage before Jean-Christophe Devaux's own goal levelled on 76 minutes only for Danijel Ljuboja to seal the win from the penalty spot seven minutes from time.
Ajaccio moved two points clear of danger with an impressive 2-0 win over Nice in Corsica, with Mamadou Seck and Yacine Bezazz handing them a vital win.
Auxerre's title challenge is over after they drew a blank at home to Lille, although Guy Roux's side will still be aiming for a place in Europe next season.
Nantes were handed a 4-0 thumping at home to Guingamp, and also ended the game with ten men when Pascal Dalhommeau was sent off on the hour.
Christophe Le Roux grabbed a brace for the visitors and Stephane Carnot and Didier Drogba completed the rout for Guingamp.
Match summaries:
AC Ajaccio v Nice
Auxerre v Lille
Bordeaux v Le Havre
Lens v Troyes
Monaco v Montpellier
Nantes v Guingamp
Rennes v Strasbourg
Sedan v Bastia
Sochaux v Marseille
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