Andre-Pierre Gignac struck eight minutes from time to earn Marseille a 1-0 win against Lorient on Saturday and move them to within just two points of the Champions League places.
The result stretched Marseille's unbeaten league run to five matches and left them trailing both Lille and Saint-Etienne, who climbed to third following a 1-0 triumph at Bastia, by just two points with 12 matches still to play.
Meanwhile, defeat for Lorient dropped Christian Gourcuff's men, now without a win in four, to 12th in the table as they were left to rue their missed opportunities.
Saint-Etienne went third after two soft goals steered them to victory away to Bastia.
Brandao netted the opener on 33 minutes as he turned in a corner at the far post following some static defending from the hosts before further confusion saw Fethi Harek stick the ball into his own net late in the second half.
Valenciennes blew a chance to move out the relegation zone after twice throwing away a lead against fellow strugglers Sochaux in a 2-2 draw.
Montpellier are now unbeaten in eight matches after beating bottom side Ajaccio 2-0, while Mustapha Yatabare struck a 93rd-minute winner as Guingamp snapped a 10-match winless run by beating Nice 1-0.
Evian's alarming run continued as they lost 2-1 at Bordeaux, leaving Pascal Dupraz's men without a win in 10 and just two points clear of the drop.
On Friday, Layvin Kurzawa struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Monaco in a 3-2 victory over Reims that cut Paris Saint-Germain's lead at the top to two points.
Monaco had twice led through goals from Valere Germain and Jeremy Toulalan but Prince Oniangue replied on both occasions for the visitors.
PSG could re-establish their five-point advantage, though, when they visit Toulouse on Sunday.
Lille can also return to the top three by avoiding defeat when they host in-form Lyon.
