Lyon cruises to 3-0 win against Reims to go top

PARIS (AP) -Lyon took advantage of Paris Saint-Germain's latest home defeat by beating Reims 3-0 on Sunday to move provisionally top of the French league.

An own goal from Reims center half Anthony Weber gave Lyon the lead in the 45th minute, and strikers Bafetimbi Gomis and Lisandro Lopez added a goal each in the second half for the seven-time former champion.

"It was difficult but we were lucky enough to score just before halftime and that opened the match up,'' veteran midfielder Steed Malbranque said.

Lyon is two points ahead of PSG, having played one game less. PSG lost its second straight home game on Saturday, slipping to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Rennes, which played most of the second half with nine players and a third-choice goalkeeper.

Later Sunday, Marseille could overtake Lyon and move into first place with a win at Bordeaux - where it has not won since 1977.

At Stade Gerland, Lopez was involved in the first goal, when his clever backheel released fullback Anthony Reveillere down the left and his cross was turned in by Weber.

Malbranque showed why France coach Didier Deschamps considered giving him a call up at the age of 32, playing a part in the next two goals.

In the 73rd, his cross from the right was clumsily hacked away by Grezgorz Krychowiak, the ball hit the crossbar and fell invitingly for Gomis to notch his sixth league goal of the season. Gomis also scored the winner for France in the 2-1 win away to Italy in midweek.

"We are united, we attack and defend together. It's satisfying to keep a clean sheet today,'' Gomis said. "I was in the right position when the ball fell to me. It shows that I'm in form.''

Then, in the last minute, Malbranque got the ball 40 yards out and picked out Lopez with a superb pass, and the Argentine forward beat goalkeeper Kossi Agassa with an assured finish for his fifth of the campaign.

Also, Argentine forward Dario Cvitanich scored in the second half as Nice beat Toulouse 1-0 at home. Nice, which has drawn seven games this season, is in 11th spot.