Mathieu Debuchy’s winner in stoppage time gave Lille a 3-2 victory over champions Marseille in the French league on Saturday and improved his team’s chances of securing a Champions League spot.
Marseille clinched their ninth league title in the previous round on Wednesday and top the standings with an unbeatable 75 points, five clear of Lille. Auxerre were third with 68, followed by Lyon with 66.
“Let’s not overthink,” Debuchy told the club’s Web site. “Let’s try to win at Lorient next Saturday to finish second and get that ticket for the Champions League.”
Elsewhere, it was: Auxerre 0, Lens 0; Valenciennes 2, Lyon 2; Montpellier 2, Lorient 1; Bordeaux 2, Sochaux 0; Rennes 2, Nice 2; Monaco 2, Nancy 1; Le Mans 1, Paris Saint-Germain 0; Saint-Etienne 0, Toulouse 1; Grenoble 2, Boulogne 0.
Mamadou Niang curled home a shot from the edge of the box to become the top striker in the league with 17 goals and put Marseille ahead after six minutes.
The top three French teams qualify for the Champions League next season while the fourth and fifth will play in the Europa League.
Midfielder Kim Kallstrom took a headed pass from Honorato Ederson to fire into the top corner in the 17th for Lyon.
Johan Audel headed home a corner from Fahid Ben Khalfallah to level in the 71st.
Valenciennes took the lead in the 79th when Renaud Cohade converted a penalty after Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fouled Gregory Pujol.
In Rennes, Nice forward Anthony Mounier headed in a cross from Loic Remy in the 13th.
Jerome Leroy equalized in the 60th for Rennes, following up after Nice goalkeeper David Ospina saved a header from Asamoah Gyan.
Rennes made it 2-1 in the 67th when Sylvain Marveaux slipped the ball past Ospina.
Emerse Fae leveled for Nice with a curling shot in the 76th. Monaco opened the scoring with an own goal from Nancy defender Jordan Loties in the seventh minute.
Moussa Maazou doubled the lead in the 58th, tapping in a low pass from Francois Modesto. Joel Sami pulled one back for Nancy in the 75th. Monaco climbed to eighth place with 54 points.
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