Lyon remain favourites for Ligue 1 Champions league spot

With champions Paris St Germain long gone at the top of Ligue 1, attention among the chasing pack is focused on securing an automatic place in the Champions League.

Lyon's French forward Maxwel Cornet (L) celebrates Source: Getty Images

Lyon began the day in pole position and after Leonardo Jardim's Monaco put the pressure on with a 3-2 win over Guingamp, Bruno Genesio's men were forced to respond by beating GFC Ajaccio 2-1.

Teenage striker Cornet, who missed last week's win at Toulouse after a straight red card in the recent draw with Nice, fired Lyon into a two-goal lead before half-time after Rachid Ghezzal had given them an early lead direct from a corner.

Gregory Pujol reduced the deficit early in the second period and the visitors went close to snatching a point, but Bruno Genesio's side held on to move back into second place on goal difference above Monaco, who beat Guingamp 3-2 earlier on Saturday.

Monaco led 2-0 at half-time through Lacina Traore and Nabil Dirar, but needed Bernardo Silva's 76th-minute strike (see below) as Mevlut Erding and Brou Angoua scored for the away side.

Fourth-placed St Etienne were held to a goalless draw by Toulouse, but needed a penalty save by Stephane Ruffier from Wissam Ben Yedder to maintain parity and later had Loic Perrin sent off.

Nice, in fifth, also lost ground as they were beaten 1-0 at Nantes, Adrien Thomasson with the goal.