Lyon goes into winter break with 17 point lead

Five-time French champions Lyon headed into the winter break on Saturday with a 17-point lead over their rivals following a 0-0 draw with Monaco.

Monaco, which has been struggling, had chances to win the game at the Stade Gerland where Lyon only dropped points once this season.

Toulouse the only other side to leave Lyon with a point in a 1-1 draw in August, but the champions can still look back on a successful first half to the campaign.

In 16 matches, Gerard Houllier's men have lost just once -- 1-0 at Rennes -- and have 50 points compared to 37 for second-placed Sochaux, who beat Nancy 2-1 on Saturday.

PSG 1, Troyes 1

PSG drew 1-1 at Troyes as their relegation worries mounted.

Ivory Coast striker Amara Diane gave PSG in the 48th but George Ba levelled for Troyes 15 minutes from the end.

"We had the game in hand," said PSG coach Guy Lacombe. "It's a shame. We could have killed the game in the first half."

Sochaux 2, Nancy 1

Karim Ziani scored both of Sochaux's goals as they beat Nancy 2-1.

The two strikes came in a three-minute period in the second half after Sebastien Puygrenier had given Nancy a 12th-minute lead.