Sunday 6 April 2008 22:53, UK
Bordeaux closed the gap at the top to six points following an impressive win against in-form Rennes.
Bordeaux closed the gap at the top to six points following an impressive win against in-form Rennes. Elsewhere, European-chasing Nice and Lille cancelled each other out at Municipal du Ray while Strasbourg dropped into the relegation zone following defeat at home to Monaco. Bordeaux kept pace with leaders Lyon at the summit with a 2-0 victory against Rennes. The visitors were unbeaten in seven heading into the game, but goals in each half from Alou Diarra (17) and Menegazzo (81) handed the hosts all three points. Strasbourg are now in the bottom three after they went down 2-0 at Stade de la Meinau against fellow strugglers Monaco. The defeat represents Strasbourg's fifth in a row, while Monaco have Anderson Nene (67) and Romeu Fabio Santos (84) to thank for handing them a first win in 10. Nice and Lille played out a goalless draw, but both maintain ambitions of playing European football next season. Nice have suffered a slump of late which has seen them pick up just one in 11, while Lille have hit form at just the right time and have suffered only two defeats in their last 15. St Etienne were the big winners of the night as they cruised to a 4-1 victory at home to Le Mans. A brace from Geoffrey Dernis (42 and 63) and one apiece from Bafetimbi Gomis (59) and Pascal Feindouno (87) ensured that former Liverpool striker Anthony Le Tallec's 33rd minute opener was nothing more than a consolation. Lens failed to pick up maximum points for the ninth game in a row as they were held to a 1-1 draw by rock-bottom Metz. Kevin Monnet-Paquet's 34th-minute strike appeared to have given the hosts a vital win, but Miralem Pjanic kept Metz's faint hopes of survival alive with a last minute equaliser. A mid-table battle at Stade Michael D'Ornano saw Caen scrape a 1-0 victory against Valenciennes. Issam Jomaa was the hero for the home side as he grabbed the only goal of the game just 20 minutes in. Sochaux kept up their recent fine run of form as they beat Auxuerre 1-0 at Stade Ebbe-Deschamps. Damien Perquis notched the winner a minute before the break to record a third straight triumph, and stretch their unbeaten streak to eight matches. The final game on Saturday saw struggling Toulouse held to a goalless draw at home to Lorient. Toulouse have now failed to record a victory in 14 Ligue 1 matches and sit in the relegation zone on goal difference. They will also be forced to cope without the services of Dominique Arribage in the coming weeks after the defender received his marching orders with four minutes remaining. Click on a fixture below for a full match summary
