Despite seeing their eight-game winning run come to an end, Marseille remain on course to qualify automatically for the Champions League as they sit three points clear of third-placed Rennes.

Nice are another two points back in fourth after Andy Delort’s late header secured a 2-1 win over Lorient. Delort had put Nice in front with a penalty early in the second half only for Armand Lauriente to equalise for relegation-threatened Lorient, but Delort then headed in Kasper Dolberg’s 88th-minute cross. Ambitious Nice, owned by British group Ineos, had gone four games without a win to slide from second to outside the European qualifying spots before this encounter. Only the top two in France qualify automatically for the Champions League, with third going into the qualifying rounds and fourth into the Europa League.

Lyon bounced back from their midweek Europa League elimination against West Ham United to crush Bordeaux 6-1, leaving their opponents four points from outright safety. Moussa Dembele and Karl Toko-Ekambi both scored twice and Lyon recorded their biggest win of the season as they seek to salvage European qualification from a disappointing campaign.

They are eighth, four points adrift of fifth-placed Strasbourg, who drew 1-1 at Troyes. Bottom side Metz are six points from safety after drawing 1-1 with fellow strugglers Clermont.

Source: AFP