PARIS : Strugglers Valenciennes scotched Lille’s attempts to have a say in the French title race on Saturday with a 2-0 success which denied the former a temporary share of second place in the table.

Lille, who enjoyed a brief foray into the Champions League three seasons ago, stay sixth after goals in quick succession from Gael Danic and former Glasgow Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville around the half-hour mark put paid to their lofty ambitions.

The northerners stay on 43 points from 27 games, one behind Bordeaux, who host Lorient on Sunday.

Toulouse were hoping to bag second place themselves at least overnight with three points at Auxerre in the late match.

Valenciennes pushed into midtable after they made it nine matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Reigning champions Lyon, who have a six-point lead over Paris St Germain, on Sunday host a Rennes side who in the event of a shock win could overhaul Lille.

PSG are also in action Sunday, at home to midtable Nancy while third-placed Marseille visit struggling Caen and St Etienne look to exit the drop zone with a win at Monaco.

Elsewhere Saturday, Nice saw their hopes of bagging a potential place in Europe fade after a 1-0 loss at Sochaux, now level on points with fourth-bottom Caen.

Nantes and Grenoble shared a 1-1 draw and Le Mans moved away from the danger zone with a 2-0 home win over a Le Havre side which appears doomed after a 20th league defeat left them ten points behind St Etienne.

– AFP /ls

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