First-half goals from Marama Vahirua and Franco Sosa proved decisive as Lorient picked up three points with a 2-0 win over struggling St Etienne on Sunday.

Vahirua silenced the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard after four minutes and when Sosa doubled the lead 13 minutes later the Brittany side were on course for victory.

However, it could have been a very different story as Christian Gourcuff's men could have been behind in the very first minute of the contest, when they had goalkeeper Fabien Audard to thank.

Les Verts started brightly and things looked promising when Augusto Fernandez was freed on the right and ran towards goal - but his effort was crucially blocked by Audard.

Victor Montano struck a second-half brace to lift Montpellier to a 2-0 victory over Lille and up to fifth in the standings.

Montano opened the scoring after 65 minutes and made the game safe three minutes from time at the Stade de la Mosson to secure a first win in four league games for his side and end Lille's recent resurgence.

Loic Remy netted a second-half penalty as Nice edged out Toulouse 1-0 to leapfrog their mid-table opponents in the table.

Remy slotted home in the 51st minute after Toulouse defender Cheikh M'Bengue was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area.

Toulouse almost grabbed an equaliser in the final minute but home 'keeper David Ospina pulled off a stunning save to deny France international Andre-Pierre Gignac.

On Saturday, Mamadou Samassa scored the only goal as Valenciennes beat Bordeaux to knock the Ligue 1 champions off the top of the table.

Bordeaux were looking to bounce back from a shock defeat to Lille a fortnight ago but were stunned by Samassa's seventh-minute strike and found Valenciennes goalkeeper Guy N'dy Assembe in inspired form.

Lyon spurned the chance to move top after being held to a surprise draw at bottom side Grenoble.

Cesar Delgado put Lyon in front after 66 minutes and Grenoble's Laurent Courtois was sent off soon after, but Danijel Ljuboja equalised just 60 seconds later.

And it was Auxerre who took advantage of Bordeaux's defeat to move top with a 2-0 victory over Monaco in the day's late game.

Adama Coulibaly scored on the stroke of half-time and Delvin Ndinga ensured it was seven wins in succession with the second in the closing minutes.

Lens came from behind to secure only their fourth Ligue 1 victory of the season with a 2-1 win over Nancy.

Paul Alo'o Efoulou broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half but Issam Jemaa levelled nine minutes from time and Kevin Monnet-Paquet notched the winner three minutes later to complete a stunning comeback.

A goal from Asamoah Gyan 10 minutes from time condemned Le Mans to their seventh successive away defeat as Rennes won 2-1.

Kader Mangane gave Rennes an early lead before Rolland Lamah levelled for the visitors, but Gyan's late decider means Le Mans are still searching for their first away point this season.

On Friday night Gabriel Heinze's first-half header earned Marseille a narrow 1-0 win over fierce rivals Paris St Germain at the Stade Velodrome.

The Argentinian stole in to head home Fabrice Abriel's free-kick in the 25th minute and settle the rearranged fixture.

The original game, which was scheduled for October 25, was delayed after three PSG players were struck down with swine flu.