Bordeaux eye top prize after sinking Lyon

Alou Diarra says Bordeaux have set their sights on the French league title after his goal gave last season’s runners-up a 1-0 victory at home to reigning champions Lyon on Sunday night.

The result took Bordeaux above Lyon into second place, with leaders Marseille extending their advantage over the chasing pack to two points by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Lorient.

“We’re ambitious. We’ve won five games in a row. We feel good physically and psychologically and we’re playing efficiently,” said former Lyon midfielder Diarra, who scored in the 43rd minute after Lyon failed to clear a right-wing corner.

“We’re second and we proved on the pitch that we’re aiming for the title. Beating the defending champions is a great sign.”

Bordeaux coach and former France defender Laurent Blanc admitted that the visitors caused his men “huge problems” in the game’s opening stages, and Lyon forward Karim Benzema rued his side’s failure to capitalise on their territorial advantage.

“We were able to do good things from a technical perspective and we started really well, but then Bordeaux won six or seven corners in a row and scored from one of them,” said the 21-year-old France striker. “That was the difference.”

Benzema’s coach Claude Puel was also critical of the visitors’ profligacy.

“It’s difficult to take but we were far too wasteful,” he said.

“When Bordeaux’s level dropped, we weren’t able to take advantage. We’ll prepare for Paris and get ourselves going again.”

Lyon’s next assignment is a home game against Paris St-Germain, who won 3-0 against bottom club Le Havre on Sunday and who are now a point behind Lyon in fourth.

Marseille, meanwhile, now appear favourites to claim their first league title in 17 years after a late goal from Brazilian striker Brandao fired them to victory at Lorient.

“If we win our last six matches, we will be champions,” said club president Pape Diouf. “But our path is lined with traps and we must be careful not to fall into them.”