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Fred scores to steer Lyon to victory at bottom club Metz

A brace from Brazilian striker Fred kept Lyon's push for a seventh straight domestic title on track Saturday with a 2-0 win at home to bottom-of-the-table Metz.

After holding Manchester United to a Champions League draw in midweek Lyon turned their attention back to domestic duty where they are bidding to keep second-placed Bordeaux at bay.

And the Brazilian ensured the champions maintain their cushion with goals after six and 69 minutes to leave Lyon with 52 points after 26 games, four points ahead of Bordeaux.

Lyon coach Alain Perrin said: "This week ends well with these three points. At the end of the day it's the points that count. We now have an entire week ahead of us to work calmly."

LENS LOSE

Nancy consolidated their third position, eight points behind Lyon, after getting back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at home against fourth-from-bottom Lens, as Nice drop to sixth after losing 2-1 at home to Auxerre.

Early season surprise package Nancy had shown signs of fatigue in recent months with just one win in 11 matches, and a morale-sapping 4-0 hammering by Saint Etienne last week.

Late goals from Pascal Berenguer (73) and Youssouf Hadji (76) secured sweet revenge for Nancy who conceded two defeats to Lens in the league and League Cup quarter-finals this season.

Senegalese midfielder Abou Kader Mangane had put Lens ahead four minutes before the break.

Le Mans provisionally move up to fourth after snatching a 2-1 victory in a bad-tempered match at Valenciennes.

Marko Basa opened for the visitors after just one minute with Anthony Le Tallec giving them their second after 15 minutes.

But both teams were reduced to 10 men following scuffles after Steve Savidan scored for the hosts just before the break while Le Mans captain Mans Romaric was down.

MARCHING ORDERS

Le Tallec and Valenciennes defender Williams Martinez were both giving their marching orders for exchanging blows.

Paris Saint Germain continued their sorry season as they remain fifth from the foot, after being held 1-1 by Monaco at Parc de Princes.

Amara Diane had given the Parisians the advantage four minutes before the break but the Riveria side, desperate not to go home empty-handed after last weekend's 6-0 mauling by Bordeaux, grabbed a point through Sergio Almiron after 70 minutes.

Elsewhere, St Etienne came away 3-1 winners from midtable rivals Nancy.

In the battle against relegation, Rennes, move up four places to 13th after a 2-0 win at home against fellow Brittany side Lorient, while second-from-bottom Sochaux won 2-0 at Strasbourg.
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