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Ligue 1: Monaco back up to second after big win over Toulouse

Monaco's Portuguese midfielder Helder Costa (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the
Image: Monaco celebrate a goal during their win over Toulouse

Monaco climbed back into second place in the Ligue 1 table behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain following a comfortable 4-0 win against struggling Toulouse at Stade Louis II.

The Red and Whites slipped to third overnight following Nice's 2-1 home victory against Lorient, but first-half goals from Bernardo Silva and Fabio Coentrao gave them a deserved two-goal cushion at the break while Guido Carrillo and Helder Costa added further goals in the second half.

Toulouse had struck the woodwork in the fifth minute through right-back Somalia's thumping volley and squandered a chance to get back in the game when Wissam Ben Yedder's 38th-minute penalty was saved by Danijel Subasic following a controversial handball decision.

Monaco have now extended their unbeaten home league run to eight matches since a 3-2 defeat to Lorient in September, but remain 21 points adrift of PSG.

Reims edged one point clear of the relegation zone thanks to Algeria international Aissa Mandi's 89th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 home draw against St Etienne.

Jean-Christophe Bahebeck broke the deadlock for St Etienne when he slammed home Alex Soderlund's 60th-minute knockdown, but with the clock ticking down centre-half Mandi popped up at the far post to rescue a point for Reims, who have won only one of their last 14 league games.

Lyon's French midfielder Coretin Tolisso (R) celebrates with his teammate Lyon's French forward Alexandre Lacazette (L)
Image: Coretin Tolisso (r) celebrates with his team-mate Alexandre Lacazette (l)

Mid-table rivals Lyon and Marseille played out a 1-1 draw at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais where visiting goalkeeper Steve Mandanda produced a man-of-the-match performance.

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Remy Cabella gave Marseille a 65th-minute lead before Lyon substitute Corentin Tolisso swept home a 79th-minute equaliser, but the point did little for either side's European aspirations.

Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi hit a post midway through the first half and had a 'goal' ruled out in the 74th minute for a dubious offside decision, while France international goalkeeper Mandanda pulled off a string of fine saves to deny Lyon.