Lyon and Marseille stay on pace in Ligue 1

Dec 10, 2017 - 5:59 PM Marseille have maintained their fine French Ligue 1 form with a 3-0 home victory against Saint-Etienne.

Summer signing Valere Germain scored his first goals for the club as Marseille moved level on points with second-placed Lyon and third-place Monaco, although goal difference means Rudi Garcia's side stay in fourth position.

Germain opened the scoring after 11 minutes and netted again midway through the second half after Ronael Pierre-Gabriel had been sent off for the visitors shortly after the break.

Marseille made their extra man count again 10 minutes from time when Lucas Ocampos completed the scoring, with the result extending Marseille's unbeaten run to 12 league matches.

Houssem Aouar scored twice, including an injury-time winner, against Amiens as Lyon recorded a 2-1 away victory.

Lyon were trailing after nine minutes when Danilo Avelar's deep cross was missed by both Marcelo and Jeremy Morel, leaving Serge Gakpe to tap into an empty net.

With 11 minutes remaining 19-year-old forward Aouar, who has recently been linked with a move to Barcelona, buried a low shot into the corner to equalise.

Amiens midfielder Gael Kakuta then hit the post with a penalty after Avelar was fouled by Lucas Tousart.

Aouar made him pay for the miss in the fourth minute of stoppage time when he volleyed home.

Nantes' winning run at home was ended when Mario Balotelli's 75th-minute winner completed a 2-1 comeback victory for Nice.

Claudio Ranieri's team had won their past five league matches at Stade de la Beaujoire and looked on course to make it six when Yacine Bammou scored after 12 minutes.

However, Alassane Plea equalised just before half-time and Balotelli secured all three points for the visitors with his 13th goal of the season 15 minutes from time.

Source: AAP