Soccer / Football : France : Ligue 1 2009/2010

Bordeaux's lead lead at the top of Ligue 1 was cut to three points after a 4-2 loss at Rennes. Montpellier beat Boulogne 2-0 to consolidate second place and increase the pressure on the defending champions. Bordeaux, still on course for an unprecedented French triple of league and cup triumphs, lead the table with 48 points ahead of Montpellier on 45 with third-placed Lille, who drew 1-1 at Nice, on 41.

Lyon earned a point in a goalless draw at Toulouse but missed an opportunity to take third place, staying in fourth with 40 points, one behind Lille. Marseille routed Valenciennes 5-1 to get back in the race for a European spot. Saint-Etienne ended Monaco's four-game winning streak with a decisive 3-0 home win. Bottom club Grenoble recorded a shock 5-0 win at home to sixth-placed Auxerre.

Lorient made a double swoop on the final day of the transfer window as they brought Gregory Bourillon and Sebastian Dubarbier. French defender Bourillon joined from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €1.7m, while Argentinian forward Dubarbier arrives from Romanian side Cluj. Bourillon, 25, and Dubarbier, 23, both signed four-and-a-half-year contracts with Lorient.

Le Mans have signed striker Olivier Thomert from league rivals Rennes on a short-term deal in an attempt to avoid relegation. The 29-year-old, who can play either through the middle or on either wing, has joined Le Mans until the end of the season. Thomert started only one league game for Rennes this campaign.

Second-placed Montpellier extended their surprise Ligue 1 run of form by beating Marseille 2-0 to close the gap on leaders Bordeaux to six points. Bordeaux still top the table on 48 points from 22 games, despite being held to a 0-0 home draw by lowly Boulogne. Third-placed Lille, who had lost their last three matches in all competitions, bounced back with a 1-0 win over Lens.

Lyon recovered from a goal down to beat 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 and keep alive their hopes of playing in Europe next season. Lyon move up to fourth place on 39, nine points off the pace, to lead both Monaco and Auxerre on goal difference. Monaco beat local rival Nice 3-2, while Auxerre beat Saint-Etienne 1-0. Paris Saint-Germain droped to 14th after their third successive league defeat.

Montpellier have signed Marseille defender Garry Bocaly for the remainder of the season with an option to buy the 21-year-old when the loan ends. Bocaly was on loan at Montpellier last season, scoring four goals in 35 league games as the team went up to the first division on the last day of the campaign. Montpellier have also signed French second-division top scorer Olivier Giroud from Tours. The 23-year-old striker has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract but will be loaned back to Tours until the end of the season.

Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze could be sidelined for up to a month after injuring his hamstring in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Bordeaux. This comes as a blow to the fourth-placed Ligue 1 side, who were on a three-game win streak before their weekend draw. Heinze, a former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, has been an influential figure in the club since his transfer from Real Madrid, and will be sorely missed by the Marseille defence.

Bordeaux conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Marseille that nonetheless left them seven points clear in Ligue 1 and on course to repeat last year's title win. Lille extended an impressive run of form with a 3-1 home victory over Paris Saint-Germain. Bordeaux moved on 44 points from 20 games with Lille, who have won their last seven matches by scoring at least three goals in each, second on 37.

Surprise packages Montpellier are eight points off the pace in third spot after beating lowly Nice 1-0. Marseille remained fourth, while fifth-placed Lyon beat Nancy 2-0. Monaco won by the same scoreline at home to Sochaux as Nene found the net twice to become the top striker in the league. Auxerre are the fourth team on 33 points as their goalless draw with Boulogne dropped them back to sixth.

Lyon have moved to bolster their defence with the signing of Croatian defender Dejan Lovren on a four-and-a-half-year contract from Dinamo Zagreb. The French club said that the 20-year-old centre-back has joined for an initial fee of €8m which could rise to €9.5m depending on bonuses. Lovren, who can also play as a full back, has made two international appearances for Croatia.