FRENCH LEAGUE
Leader Monaco stumbled to a 0-0 tie away to Lens on Saturday and handed the initiative back to Lyon in the French first division title race.
Although Monaco, which midweek conquered Real Madrid to advance to the Champions League semifinals, has a two point lead at the top of the table, Lyon can take first place if it wins at Strasbourg today.
Monaco has 65 points, Lyon 63 and Paris Saint-Germain, also on 63 but with an inferior goals difference, is third after winning 2-1 at Nice.
At Nice, veteran striker Lilian Laslandes scored in the 15th minute and PSG had goalkeeper Jerome Alonzo sent off early in the second-half.
But 10-man PSG rallied and pulled level in the 80th minute when defender Jose Pierre-Fanfan headed in a corner, and grabbed the win in the 87th when Argentine midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin headed in.
Portuguese league
FC Porto recovered from its first loss of the season by nipping Maritimo 1-0, while Sporting and Benfica also won.
Ricardo Carvalho scored the lone goal in the 84th minute for Porto, which advanced to the Champions Cup semifinals on Wednesday to stay alive for a possible treble. The defending league and cup champions will face Benfica in the cup final.
Liedson scored three goals as Sporting crushed Amadora 4-0. Marius Niculae also scored.
Benfica stayed in third place after downing Pacos Ferreira 2-1. Nuno Gomes and Geovanni scored a goal each for benfica, while Ze Manuel replied for the visitors.
Porto leads the league with 74 points, followed by Sporting with 70 and Benfica with 64.
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