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Ligue 1 round-up

Image: Hoarau: Equalised for PSG

Lille were held at Lorient, PSG claimed a late point, Rennes slipped up while all three of the bottom three drew.

PSG hit back, Monaco upset Rennes

Leaders Lille were held at Lorient, PSG claimed a late point, Rennes slipped up at Monaco while all three of the bottom three drew. Lille's faltering French title challenge suffered another setback when the Ligue 1 leaders were held to a 1-1 draw at Lorient. The northern side, who are on 60 points with six games left and have failed to win in their last three league matches, are under pressure from Marseille, who play their game at home to Nice on Wednesday. Lille, leading the standings since December, were dominated throughout but opened the scoring when Mathieu Debuchy volleyed home from a narrow angle three minutes before the interval. Lorient increased the pressure and were rewarded in the 68th minute when French international striker Kevin Gameiro's volley beat Mickael Landreau in a lively game in Brittany. Guillaume Hoarau's deflected late equaliser at Brest earned fourth-placed PSG what could prove a vital Ligue 1 point in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification. Mathieu Bodmer had given the visitors a 20th-minute lead at the Stade Francis Le Ble, but the mid-table hosts turned the game on its head before the break through goals from Larsen Toure - following up from Bruno Grouri's saved penalty - and Grouri. However, Hoarau's header - which went in via Ahmed Kantari - levelled matters three minutes from time to keep PSG in touch with the top three. Rennes' Champions League hopes suffered another blow as they lost at relegation-threatened Monaco to extend their winless Ligue 1 run to six games. Georgie Welcome's strike 18 minutes from time was enough to secure victory for the hosts. Goals from Jaroslav Plasil and Cheick Diabate gave Bordeaux a 2-0 win which moved them above St Etienne and into sixth place. The home side went ahead through Plasil after 14 minutes and Diabate struck a late second to sink a St Etienne side whose European challenge has been hit by a run of two wins in 10 games at a crucial stage of the season. Lens came from a goal behind to salvage a point against hosts Auxerre, but they are now without a win in four in their bid to avoid relegation from Ligue 1. Willy Boly put Auxerre ahead at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps after only six minutes and the advantage stuck until Sebastien Roudet's equaliser 45 minutes later. The result leaves Lens second bottom and eight points from safety, while Auxerre are also scrapping on 38 points - two away from a place in the drop zone. Valenciennes remain three points clear of the bottom three after frustrating ambitious Sochaux to a 1-1 draw at Stade Nungesser. Fouad Kadir gave the hosts an early lead but it was almost instantly cancelled out by David Ducourtioux's own goal. Francis Gillot had called for his team to kick on from last week's unconvincing win over Caen and secure a top-half finish, and the result does at least lift them to eighth with six games remaining. Caen remain in Ligue 1's bottom three after a draw which does little for either them or visitors Toulouse. Romain Hamouma gave the home side the lead but Moussa Sissoko equalised from the penalty spot before half-time. Arles played for 80 minutes with 10 men but the Ligue 1 basement boys still held Nancy to a goalless draw. The long-doomed visitors were up against it from the 10th minute when Bobo Balde was sent off for fouling Jonathan Brison, but the hosts could not find the breakthrough despite creating a host of chances.

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