Monaco were held to a surprise draw by Grenoble as Auxerre moved into the top three.
Grenoble hold Monaco as Auxerre overcome Le Mans
Monaco were held to a surprise draw by Grenoble as Auxerre moved into the top three.
Monaco had started the day in third place and were firm favourites to beat
Grenoble and climb above Lyon, who face Marseille on Sunday.
But Grenoble, who had lost their opening 11 games of the season, finally managed to get their campaign off and running with a hard-fought goalless draw at Stade Louis II.
Auxerre took advantage of Monaco's slip-up as a sixth consecutive victory sent them into the final UEFA Champions League position.
Relegation-threatened
Le Mans were Auxerre's victims but they contributed to their own downfall as a Joao Paulo own goal on 51 minutes was all that separated the sides at Stade Leon-Bollee.
High-flying
Valenciennes and
Montpellier played out a 1-1 draw as Victor Montano's early opener was cancelled out by a Carlos Sanchez effort after 51 minutes.
Lorient were Saturday's big winners as they swept aside struggling
Boulogne 5-0 at home to go fifth in the table.
Kevin Gameiro (33 and 49) and Marama Vahirua (45 and 57) both scored twice before Morgan Amalfitano added late gloss to the scoreline in the 90th minute.
Loic Remy proved the hero for
Nice in their 1-0 victory over
Paris St Germain, slotting home the crucial goal with just two minutes remaining.
St Etienne also prevailed 1-0 away to
Nancy courtesy of a Dimitri Payet strike on 70 minutes.
In the final match of the night,
Lens picked up their first win in nine attempts by beating
Sochaux 2-1 away from home.
Romain Sartre broke the deadlock for Lens after 38 minutes and Razak Boukari made it 2-0 with four minutes remaining, before Sloan Privat pulled a late goal back for the hosts.
