Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille, Lyon slip up in title chase

Lyon and Marseille lost ground on Ligue 1 leaders PSG after failing to record victories on Sunday.

Lyon, who sit second on the table, could have moved within three points of the Parisian giants with a home win over Lille.

But after a loss to Ajaccio last week, Lyon again slipped up, losing 3-1 to Lille on this occasion.

Aurelien Chedjou smashed a shot past Remy Vercoutre just before the half hour to give Lille the lead, with the goal coming slightly against the run of play.

Florent Balmont doubled Lille’s lead on the stroke of half-time with a thumping strike from 18 yards and the visitors were in dreamland just after the break.

Ivorian Salomon Kalou, who recently returned to the club from the Africa Cup of Nations, put Lille 3-0 ahead with a penalty.

And although Lisandro Lopez pulled a goal back for Lyon with a spot-kick of his own, it was not enough as Lille celebrated a terrific away win.

Marseille were held to a 1-1 draw at Evian TG in a match they finished with just nine men.

Andre-Pierre Gignac opened the scoring for Marseille on 51 minutes but it was an advantage that did not last long.

After Comoros defender Kassim Abdallah was given a straight red card, Ivorian Yannick Sagbo tucked away the resultant spot-kick for Evian TG.

Marseille substitute Jordan Ayew was introduced off the bench after 73 minutes but sent off two minutes later, meaning Elie Baup’s side suffered a nervy ending to the match.

Marseille are now eight points behind PSG in third.

The day’s other match saw Rennes defeat Toulouse 2-0, with Romain Alessandrini and Mevlut Erdinc scoring in the last 15 minutes for the victors.