Marseille have taken a big step toward qualifying for next season's Champions League, winning 2-1 at Lille after another rival Rennes lost 1-0 at Reims.
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Second-place Marseille, the only French side to have won the European Cup, move 11 points ahead of third-place Rennes and 12 clear of Lille in fourth.
Lille would have leapfrogged Rennes with a win but now remain a point behind after relinquishing the lead against Marseille, who won the Champions League final in 1993 against AC Milan.
Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda pumped his fists at the final whistle and was then mobbed by teammates, having made two fine early saves from Victor Osimhen and Loic Remy.
Mandanda was beaten by Osimhen's 13th league goal of the season in the 51st minute, however, as the Nigeria striker adroitly clipped the ball over him after latching onto Jonathan Bamba's astute pass.
But shortly after Remy had a goal disallowed by video replay for an offside by Osimhen, the home side began to fade and conceded a penalty in the 60th.
With Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet out injured, midfielder Valentin Rongier elected to take it but his effort was saved by goalkeeper Mike Maignan diving to his left.
Marseille equalised in the 67th when forward Valere Germain met a corner from the right with a glancing header which bounced off defender Reinildo Mandava's head for an own-goal.
Marseille are 10 points behind league leader Paris Saint-Germain, who drew 4-4 at Amiens on Saturday.
Lyon also faltered in their bid for a European place by drawing 1-1 at home to Strasbourg.
Their fourth league match without a win leaves them mired in 11th place and seven points behind Rennes, with the team finishing third reaching the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.
Eighteen-year old forward El Bilal Toure scored a second-half penalty for eighth-place Reims, who moved one point behind Strasbourg in seventh.
Winger Bertrand Traore put Lyon ahead in the 21st minute while striker Majeed Waris played in Kevin Zohi behind Lyon's defence for the equaliser in the 43rd.
Saint-Etienne are now only two points above the relegation zone after a 3-2 defeat at Brest who are 13th and seven points above the drop zone.
Australian Associated Press
