Ligue 1 wrap: Montpellier close on title

Montpellier moved a step closer to a maiden Ligue 1 title with a 1-0 win over Valenciennes on Saturday.

Souleymane Camara scored in the fifth minute to open up a five-point gap over PSG ahead of their match with Sochaux on Sunday.

Camara gave the home side the advantage at Stade de la Mosson when he kneed home Younes Belhanda’s low cross from the right.

Belhanda then had an effort disallowed for offside and Montpellier were lucky not to concede five minutes from time when Renaud Cohade’s effort struck the crossbar from 20 yards.

Defending champions Lille closed the gap on PSG to two points with a 2-0 win at Dijon, who were reduced to nine men.

Lille also had a man sent off with Idrissa Gana Gueye given his marching orders before Rio Mavuba and Eden Hazard struck within ten minutes of half time to give Lille an unlikely two-goal cushion.

Dijon grew increasingly frustrated as the game wore on and had Abdoulaye Meite and Bennard Kumordzi sent off in the second half.

Rennes moved ahead of Lyon and Toulouse into fourth place with a 1-0 victory at Brest thanks to Julien Feret’s first-half penalty.

Toulouse lost 2-1 at in-form Evian, who climbed to eighth.

Saint-Etienne also increased the pressure to move level on points with Lyon and Toulouse after an easy 4-1 win at relegation-threatened Caen.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged a double to take his season tally to 13 goals.

Bottom club Auxerre remain five points away from safety after they lost two men in a 1-0 defeat at Nice.

Dennis Oliech and Willy Boly were sent off for the visitors as their season went from bad to worse.