Lyon, held to a 1-1 draw at Grenoble, failed to exploit an unexpected defeat inflicted on league leaders Bordeaux by Valenciennes in French first division action on Saturday.
Bordeaux fell behind to a seventh minute strike from French-born Mali international Mamadou Samassa and failed to overcome from that early shock to lose 1-0.
But Laurent Blanc’s side, neck and neck with Lyon on 25 points, remained in control of the summit on the strength of their superior goal difference.
Auxerre, on 23 points, could take advantage of those results as a victory over Monaco in Saturday’s late game would see them go clear by one point.
Bordeaux’s loss was the first time they had suffered at the hands of Valenciennes at home since 1976.
The northern side’s reward was a jump of five places up to provisional third.
Elsewhere Lens beat Nancy 2-1 and Rennes defeated Le Mans by the same scoreline.
