Olympique Marseille needed a penalty deep into added time to win 2-1 at struggling Boulogne and stay five points clear at the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Taye Taiwo converted the spot-kick, awarded after Yoann Lachor handled the ball in the area, to leave Marseille on 68 points.
Mathieu Valbuena put Marseille ahead with an angled shot from inside the box shortly before halftime but Boulogne equalized courtesy of a late goal from close range by substitute forward Jeremy Blayac.
“We would have been happy with just one point because, frankly, what we showed tonight was not good,” Marseille sports director Jose Anigo told his club’s Web site.
“We have our little cushion [of points] but we’re not going to celebrate because 15 points are still to play for,” he said.
With five games to play, the former European champions remained five points ahead of Auxerre, who crushed Lorient 4-1.
Girondins Bordeaux and Olympique Lyon did their slim title hopes no favors when they drew 2-2 in a game featuring three red cards in the last minute.
Lyon defender Anthony Reveillere was the first to receive his marching orders, for a nasty tackle on Benoit Tremoulinas, who was sent off together with Bordeaux teammate Jussie in the heated argument that followed.
Bordeaux led twice, with goals from Marouane Chamakh and Jaroslav Plasil, but Lyon leveled twice, through Ederson and Cris.
Lyon and Bordeaux stick to third and fifth place and are now nine and 11 points off the pace respectively.
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