Montpellier victorious over Valenciennes
Reuters - Saturday 21 April 2012, 21:10
An early goal from Souleymane
Camara helped Montpellier move five points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1 as they defeated Valenciennes 1-0
at home on Saturday.
Montpellier, who along with pundits never considered
themselves title contenders before the season, are on 69 points
with five games to play.
Camara was lucky to score after five minutes when a Younes
Belhanda cross bounced off his knee before hitting the post to
go into the net.
Montpellier, whose attacking flair has stunned French
football this term after they finished 14th last season, focused
on their defensive effort for once after they were beaten at
relegation-threatened Lorient last weekend.
The Ligue 1 leaders had few chances against Valenciennes,
though they were denied a penalty when Nicolas Isimat-Marin
handled a John Utaka volley.
"We needed to reassure ourselves at home and we did,"
playmaker Belhanda told Foot+ television.
"We will watch Paris' match tomorrow, but we are more
focused on ourselves and the league matches to come."
Eden Hazard, being watched by a host top European clubs, set
up a goal and scored the second in the first half to earn
third-placed Lille a 2-0 win at Dijon, who were reduced to nine
men in the second half.
Champions Lille were down to 10 men after just 36 minutes of
a dirty game.
MARSEILLE BEATEN
Captain Rio Mavuba fired into the top corner from a Hazard
pass in the 39th minute, then the Belgian bent the ball past
keeper Baptiste Reynet from close range in first-half stoppage
time to seal the victory.
Lille occupy the Champions League play-off round berth with
62 points, eight ahead of Stade Rennes, who climbed up to the
fourth spot after they beat Brest 1-0 away.
Julien Feret scored from the penalty spot seconds before the
half-time to grant Rennes their third consecutive league win.
Olympique Lyon, who hosted Lorient on Sunday, are fifth on 53
points along with Saint-Etienne, who thrashed Caen 4-1 away thanks
to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace.
Toulouse are also on 53 points after they lost 2-1 at
mid-table Evian-Thonon-Gaillard.
Olympique Marseille extended their run to 12 league games
without a win as they were beaten 2-1 at fellow mid-table side
Girondins Bordeaux.
Brazilian playmaker Jussie put the hosts ahead in the first
minute from a Yoan Gouffran pass and then unleashed a powerful
shot to double the lead midway through the half.
Jordan Ayew volleyed home from a corner-kick in the 57th
minute for the visitors, whose goalkeeper Steve Mandanda saved a
Benoit Tremoulinas penalty midway through the second half.
Bottom side Auxerre, who featured in the Champions League
group stage last season, lost 1-0 at Nice to stay five points
from safety.