Lille win to close in on PSG

A first half Remy Roux strike ensured that Lille moved second in Ligue 1 on Friday with a 1-0 win at Nantes as French football braces itself for a strike over a controversial supertax.

Lille have 23 points from 11 games, just one point behind leaders Paris Saint Germain who will look to consolidate their advantage at Saint Etienne on Sunday.

Third-placed Monaco, a further point behind Lille, could however reclaim second spot when they host Lyon on Sunday.

"I'm quite satisfied that we're going home with a win and managed to hold this Nantes side who are not easy to manage on their home turf," said Lille coach Rene Girard.

"I was afraid they would snatch victory at the end, but we did the necessary. We have to make the most of this period when we're solid and tough because there could be tougher times coming."

Lille showed their solid defence once again at La Beaujoire stadium with just four goals conceded this season, as Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama maintained his record of having not conceded a goal in the last six games.

The only goal of the night came four minutes before the break when Roux found the net despite shades of being offside for his third goal of the season.

Lille resisted a series of attacks from Nantes with an Oswaldo Vizcarrondo header going wide after seven minutes with Vincent Bessat also coming up just short after 27 minutes.

Enyeama did well to hold a Jordan Veretout free kick after 75 minutes and again stood his ground following an effort from Venezuelan striker Fernando Aristeguieta nine minutes from time.

"We lost on a goal that was offside," complained Nantes coach Michel Der Zakarian.

"This is a setback because we lost at home, while we were on a run of four straight wins."

Nantes stay fourth with 19 points from 11 games.

Meanwhile Paris Saint-German coach Laurent Blanc blasted plans by French clubs to strike over the government's 75% supertax, claiming that people "need to see football".

French clubs in the top two divisions voted to strike on the weekend of November 30 in protest at Socialist President Francois Hollande's controversial initiative to tax the super-rich.

It will be the first lockdown in the professional French game since 1972.

"I hope that between now and November 30, which leaves us a little time, a solution will be found," said Blanc, a former French national coach.

"Think about the sport, for the sport, for football, you have to play. People need to see matches."

Oniangue compounds Marseille misery

A last-gasp Prince Oniangue winner put the sparkle back into Reims' season on Saturday with a 3-2 win at Ligue 1 rivals Marseille.

The side from the Champagne region handed last season's runners-up a fifth straight defeat in all competitions to put Marseille boss Elie Baup under increasing pressure.

Despite the backing of club president Vincent Labrune, Baup saw his side drop to provisional sixth having also almost bid farewell to the Champions League after their 2-1 loss to Napoli midweek.

"We're in a very difficult period," admitted Baup. "The third goal left a bitter taste. The Champions League is not easy and that has a knock-on effect on the league."

The hosts were trailing two goals down at halftime.

Reims opened after 34 minutes when Franco-Togolese midfielder Floyd Ayite's freekick off a Saber Khalifa header deceived Steve Mandanda in goal.

And just three minutes later, Reims, who had just won two matches in their previous ten, added a second from ten metres out from Danish midfielder Mads Albaek.

The visitors almost scored a third two minutes before the break but Gaeten Courtet missed the target.

Marseille were jeered by their own fans but Florian Thauvin lifted spirits when he got one back after 56 minutes.

Substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac then set the Velodrome alight when on 86 minutes he equalised shortly after coming on the pitch.

But Marseille paid the price for leaving Congolese international midfielder Oniangue unmarked and he got past Mandanda as Baup's side lost in stoppage time for the third time this season.

"We shouldn't blame anyone," insisted Labrune.

"We're all supportive of each other, the president, the athletic director (Jose Anigo), the coach and players. We must move forward. There are 27 league games left, I want to convey a message of unity," he added.

Reims move up to tenth just two points behind Marseille.

"We came here to fix the errors of our last two away matches," said Reims coach Hubert Fournier, adding that they had analysed Marseille play Napoli to see how best approach the game against their big-spending rivals.

"They have players on the pitch who are worth 30 million euros, our overall budget," he said. "But they reacted well in the second half."

Guingamp, meanwhile, overtook Marseille on goal difference to move fifth after leaving it late before goals from Claudio Beauvue (86) and Mustapha Diallo (90+1) gave them a 2-1 win against visiting Ajaccio. The Corsicans had opened four minutes before the break through Benjamin Andre.

Midtable Rennes went on a goalspree at Toulouse getting five past 'keeper Ali Ahamada in a 5-0 victory in Brittany.

Sebastien Squillaci scored a first half goal to give Bastia a 1-0 win against Nice which helped put their 4-0 loss in Paris last week behind them.

Lorient won 2-1 against fellow strugglers Sochaux as tailenders Valenciennes fell 1-0 at home against Evian/Thonon.

Meanwhile, a first half Nolan Roux strike ensured that Lille moved second on Friday with a 1-0 win at Nantes.

Lille have 23 points from 11 games, just one point behind leaders Paris Saint Germain who will look to consolidate their advantage at Saint Etienne on Sunday.

Third-placed Monaco, a further point behind Lille, could however reclaim second spot when they host Lyon on Sunday.

Falcao fires Monaco to the top

Ligue 1's top scorer Rademel Falcao found the target for the first time in four matches on Sunday as he helped Monaco move one point clear of Paris Saint-Germain with a 2-1 win over Lyon.

Paris Saint-Germain are the only other unbeaten side in France and could reclaim the top spot later on Sunday when they travel to a Saint-Etienne outfit, they failed to beat last season.

Colombian hitman Falcao took his season's tally to eight goals in 11 matches and surprisingly came in for criticism in recent weeks after a brief drought of three fixtures without scoring.

The former Atletico Madrid striker chipped Lyon 'keeper Anthony Lopes in the 36th minute following Mounir Obbadi's 28th minute opener as Claudio Ranieri's men extended their unbeaten run to seven wins and four draws in 11 outings.

French striker Bafetimbi Gomis gave the visitors hope with 28 minutes left when he powered home a close-range header but it wasn't enough as Lyon suffered their fifth defeat.

Lyon are in domestic free-fall as the seven-time champions endure one of the worst starts to their season in over a decade and have just three wins all season under embattled coach Remi Garde.

"We had a pretty easy first half but made life difficult for ourselves by conceding a goal," explained Monaco's Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho.

"It was important for Falcao to score and when he scores Monaco usually win and we have to win all our matches if we want to stay at the top," he added.

Lille slip to third, one point behind PSG and two behind Monaco following their disciplined 1-0 win at Nantes on Friday.

Earlier on Sunday, Bordeaux rode two late goals from Mali international Cheikh Diabate and Polish winger Ludovic Obraniak to defeat Montpellier in a battle of former champions at the Chaban Delmas stadium.

The victory for the 'Girodins' eases them away from the relegation zone and up to 13th while Montpellier's dismal start to the season continues as they slip to three places above the relegation zone.

PSG make it 30 games without defeat

A last-gasp goal by Blaise Matuidi salvaged a 2-2 draw for leaders Paris St Germain at 10-man St Etienne as the Ligue 1 champions took their unbeaten run to 30 games in all competitions on Sunday.

It was heartbreak for the home team, who were 2-0 up after 51 minutes, as midfielder Matuidi's cross bounced past keeper Stephane Ruffier three minutes into stoppage time.

St Etienne, who had Fabien Lemoine sent off for a second caution in the 59th minute, pounced on two blunders from centre half Marquinhos to take command before Edinson Cavani pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 68th minute.

PSG have 25 points from 11 games and lead Monaco, who beat Olympique Lyon 2-1 earlier on Sunday with Radamel Falcao ending a three-match scoreless streak, on goal difference.

Lille are two points adrift in third place after they beat Nantes 1-0 on Friday.

St Etienne went in front when an awful Marquinhos clearance was intercepted by Romain Hamouma and his centre was expertly volleyed in by Benjamin Corgnet after 18 minutes.

The home team doubled their lead six minutes after the break when another attempted clearance by Marquinhos bounced off the back of a teammate and fell kindly to goal-scorer Hamouma.

Lemoine was dismissed for a foul on Ezequiel Lavezzi and PSG started their fightback when Cavani netted his seventh league goal of the season by tapping in a cross from Maxwell.

Barcelona down Real as Bale flops

Gareth Bale had an El Clasico debut to forget as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Camp Nou thanks to goals from Neymar and Alexis Sanchez.

Bale had been surprisingly selected for just his second start since joining the club by Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, but struggled to make an impression as Barca dominated the first-half.

Neymar gave the hosts a deserved lead with a neat finish from a narrow angle on 19 minutes before Lionel Messi ought to have doubled the advantage when he fired wide moments later.

Bale was replaced by Karim Benzema on the hour mark and the Frenchman nearly made an instant impact when he smashed the crossbar with 21 minutes remaining.

However, Sanchez sealed the points 12 minutes from time with a delightful chip over Diego Lopez.

Substitute Jese Rodriguez pulled a goal back for Madrid in stoppage time, but it was too little too late as Barca moved six points clear of their rivals at the top of La Liga.

Bale's inclusion was not the only surprise among Ancelotti's starting line up as Sergio Ramos was also moved into an unfamiliar central midfield role.

The Welshman had Madrid's first effort on goal with a left-footed strike that sailed well over, but it was Barca who settled quicker as Real struggled to come to terms with Neymar's pace and trickery.

It was no surprise that it was the Brazilian who put Barca in front when he collected Andres Iniesta's pass inside the area and sneaked his shot from a narrow angle inside the far post with the aid of a slight deflection off Dani Carvajal.

The presence of Cesc Fabregas in the Barca side had forced Messi into an unusual position on the right side.

However, the Argentine should have doubled the lead two minutes later when he was released through on goal only to uncharacteristically slide the ball wide on his trusted left foot.

Bale then saw another wild effort from distance fly well over, but Madrid did finally create a clear opening two minutes before the break when Cristiano Ronaldo showed Dani Alves a clear pair of heels down the left and Sami Khedira's effort on the slide was brilliantly kept out by Victor Valdes.

Bale's miserable first-half was rounded off in stoppage time when he saw a yellow card for a high challenge on Gerard Pique.

Madrid started the second-half brightly as their pressing higher up the field unsettled Barca.

However, the visitors had Lopez to thank for keeping them in the game as Javier Mascherano picked out Neymar with a wonderful pass in behind the Madrid defence and his volley was beaten away by the keeper.

Ancelotti then introduced Asier Illarramendi for Ramos to improve Madrid's use of the ball in midfield.

Real's pressing very nearly delivered an equaliser as Luka Modric and Khedira robbed Iniesta before the Croat fed Ronaldo and his rasping drive was turned behind by Valdes.

Bale was then withdrawn as Ancelotti sent on Benzema in search of an equaliser.

Ronaldo was less furious with referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco when he felt he had been bundled over by Adriano inside the area.

And seconds later Benzema nearly marked his entrance in stunning fashion as he lashed an effort from outside the area off the underside of the bar.

Sanchez ensured that Barca wouldn't have to endure a nervy final 10 minutes as he showed great speed to reach Neymar's pass before lifting a wonderfully judged lob over Lopez.

Jese gave Madrid a flicker of hope in stoppage time as he collected Ronaldo's pass to score low past Valdes, but Los Blancos didn't have time to mount another attack as they slipped to their second defeat of the season.

Ancelotti backs beleaguered Bale

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has backed Gareth Bale to come good despite another insipid performance from the Welshman in the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona on Saturday night.

Bale was handed just his second start since joining Los Blancos for €91 million last month, but failed to make an impact on the game before being replaced by Karim Benzema after an hour.

The 24-year-old occupied a variety of positions across the frontline during his time on the field, but Ancelotti explained that his starting position in the centre of the pitch was merely a defensive tactic to pressure Sergio Busquets before moving into wide areas when Madrid had the ball.

"They are his first games and he needs to learn the combinations with the other players.

"He played a good game, he worked hard for the team."

"He didn't change positions from the wing to the centre a lot. He just looked to pressure Busquets when they had the ball and then play on the wing where there was more space."

Goals either side of halftime from Neymar and Alexis Sanchez were enough to hand Barca victory as Jese Rodriguez's reply for Madrid in stoppage time was merely a late consolation.

However, Ancelotti was convinced his side should have been awarded a penalty with the score at 1-0 when Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have been caught by Javier Mascherano inside the area.

"Naturally the penalty seems very clear to me. Everyone has seen it apart from the referee who didn't," he said.

"The second-half was very good. We pressured more and played more. We controlled the game and had good opportunities to score."

Ancelotti did, though, play down suggestions that Madrid could also have been awarded a penalty in the first-half for a handball against Adriano, who was already on a yellow card at the time.

"That decision is much more difficult. It was very fast and at that stage of the game it is a difficult decision to make as if he gives the penalty there may be a card as well."

Barca boss Gerardo Martino refused to get involved in the debate over the performance of the referee, but hailed his side's display in the first half as a throwback to the wonderful football they produced at times under Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova.

"I think generally the whole team produced a great performance in the first half.

"That was the Barca we are used to seeing, but afterwards it wasn't the same and we had to make changes.

"During 20 minutes in the second half I could see that we were too deep and giving the initiative to Madrid. We made changes to modify this and after that we counter-attacked better and had more control in the final 15 minutes."

Even in the first period. however, Lionel Messi wasn't able to dictate his usual influence on the game as he started wide on the right.

"His performance was like the rest of the team, he started very well and then dipped a bit. Apart from the defence and the great game that (Victor) Valdes played, I would evaluate everyone else as a collective.

"Messi has played many times where he played today. He worked very hard and I would give him great credit. If he, like the other big players, is able to do this then things will go well."

Victory moves Barca six points ahead of Madrid, but Martino is wary of talking up his side's advantage with just 10 games of the season gone.

"It counts more for our confidence than mathematically. There is still 70 percent of the league to go, both Madrid and Atletico are still close and they can make up that gap.

Ancelotti backs beleaguered Bale

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has backed Gareth Bale to come good despite another insipid performance from the Welshman in the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona on Saturday night.

Bale was handed just his second start since joining Los Blancos for €91 million last month, but failed to make an impact on the game before being replaced by Karim Benzema after an hour.

The 24-year-old occupied a variety of positions across the frontline during his time on the field, but Ancelotti explained that his starting position in the centre of the pitch was merely a defensive tactic to pressure Sergio Busquets before moving into wide areas when Madrid had the ball.

"They are his first games and he needs to learn the combinations with the other players.

"He played a good game, he worked hard for the team."

"He didn't change positions from the wing to the centre a lot. He just looked to pressure Busquets when they had the ball and then play on the wing where there was more space."

Goals either side of halftime from Neymar and Alexis Sanchez were enough to hand Barca victory as Jese Rodriguez's reply for Madrid in stoppage time was merely a late consolation.

However, Ancelotti was convinced his side should have been awarded a penalty with the score at 1-0 when Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have been caught by Javier Mascherano inside the area.

"Naturally the penalty seems very clear to me. Everyone has seen it apart from the referee who didn't," he said.

"The second-half was very good. We pressured more and played more. We controlled the game and had good opportunities to score."

Ancelotti did, though, play down suggestions that Madrid could also have been awarded a penalty in the first-half for a handball against Adriano, who was already on a yellow card at the time.

"That decision is much more difficult. It was very fast and at that stage of the game it is a difficult decision to make as if he gives the penalty there may be a card as well."

Barca boss Gerardo Martino refused to get involved in the debate over the performance of the referee, but hailed his side's display in the first half as a throwback to the wonderful football they produced at times under Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova.

"I think generally the whole team produced a great performance in the first half.

"That was the Barca we are used to seeing, but afterwards it wasn't the same and we had to make changes.

"During 20 minutes in the second half I could see that we were too deep and giving the initiative to Madrid. We made changes to modify this and after that we counter-attacked better and had more control in the final 15 minutes."

Even in the first period. however, Lionel Messi wasn't able to dictate his usual influence on the game as he started wide on the right.

"His performance was like the rest of the team, he started very well and then dipped a bit. Apart from the defence and the great game that (Victor) Valdes played, I would evaluate everyone else as a collective.

"Messi has played many times where he played today. He worked very hard and I would give him great credit. If he, like the other big players, is able to do this then things will go well."

Victory moves Barca six points ahead of Madrid, but Martino is wary of talking up his side's advantage with just 10 games of the season gone.

"It counts more for our confidence than mathematically. There is still 70 percent of the league to go, both Madrid and Atletico are still close and they can make up that gap.