Nice thwart Lyons push for Ligue 1 summit

Nice secured a sharp 3-2 victory over Lyon at home on Saturday, preventing the away team from claiming the top spot in Ligue 1.

A win for Paulo Fonsecas Lyon could have pushed them ahead of title holders Paris Saint Germain at the top, but a narrow defeat instead left them in fourth place with 15 points.

PSG managed a 3-3 draw against second placed Strasbourg at home on Friday, which opened the door for challengers Marseille and Lyon to seize the lead.

Marseille, sitting third, will face struggling Le Havre later that day.

Melvin Bard put eighth placed Nice ahead after just five minutes, smashing in a crisp first time shot past Dominik Greif following a precise cross from Sofiane Diop on the right side.

Lyon equalised approaching the half hour mark when Pavel Sulc headed home a deflection from a corner kick.

Diop put Nice back in front in the 35th minute with only the hosts second effort on goal.

The threat originated from the right once more, as a lofted pass was nodded back across the goalmouth by Mohamed Ali Cho, allowing the Moroccan to slot it in from close range.

Lyon earned a penalty soon after the interval, yet ex Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland Niles could not overcome keeper Yehvann Diouf from the spot, sparing Nice.

The hosts capitalised straight away on the save, with Hicham Boudaoui netting on a counter in the 55th minute, his precise curling finish flying past Greif into the far corner.

Sulc added his brace for Lyon with a header deep into stoppage time, yet Nice stood resolute to claim the win.

In other Saturday action, fifth placed Monaco head to near bottom side Angers.