Lyon deals blow to Marseille title hopes

PARIS (AP) -- Marseille's quest for a first French title since 1992 took a major blow on Sunday after a 3-1 home defeat to Lyon handed the initiative to Bordeaux, which is now three points clear at the top with just two rounds remaining.

Marseille dominated for most of the match, but Lyon punished Marseille's slack defending to move 2-0 ahead at halftime with two goals from France striker Karim Benzema. Marseille substitute Sylvain Wiltord pulled a goal back in the 81st, but Brazilian midfielder Juninho sealed the win with a swerving free kick from 35 metres deep into injury time.

After 36 rounds, Bordeaux has 74 points after beating Le Mans 3-2 on Saturday, while Marseille has 71 points and Lyon's win moves it onto 67 points and closer to securing third place and a spot in the Champions League qualifying round.

Paris Saint-Germain is fourth with 63 points.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, Nantes is deep in relegation trouble after conceding a late goal in a 1-1 home draw with Rennes that keeps it in 19th place.

Nantes took the lead in the first half through Mamadou Bagayoko and looked set for a precious win until Rennes striker Moussa Sow pounced in the 83rd minute.

That means Nantes is two points behind 18th-place Sochaux and three points behind 17th-place Saint-Etienne, which also has a better goal difference than Nantes.

At Nantes, Bagayoko gave home fans hope when he chased down a long pass over the top of the Rennes defense, and when defender Petter Hansson slipped trying to clear the ball Bagayoko pounced to open the scoring.

But poor defending from Nantes allowed Sylvain Marveaux space to cross from the left and Jerome Leroy flicked the ball into Sow's path and he finished confidently for his eighth goal of the season.

In Sunday's other match, Lille rallied to draw 1-1 with visiting Nice.

Anthony Modeste opened the scoring for the visitors in the 34th, but midfielder Yohan Cabaye grabbed a point for Lille in the 70th with his fifth goal of the campaign.

Lille is in sixth place with 58 points, and leads seventh-place Rennes on goal difference. Nice is ninth with 49 points.

In Saturday's results, it was: Caen 2, Sochaux 0; Grenoble 0, Nancy 0; Saint-Etienne 2, Toulouse 2; Lorient 1, Le Havre 1; Paris Saint-Germain 1, Auxerre 2; and Monaco 1, Valenciennes 1.

Le Havre is already relegated and in last place with 25 points, Nantes has 34 points and Sochaux has 36. Saint-Etienne and Caen are one point ahead with 37, while Le Mans has 38.

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