Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 Stade Rennais FC

THE MATCH

Lyon welcomed Rennes to the Groupama Stadium knowing that victory could take them to the top of the league - at least until Lille and PSG got their games underway later on Wednesday - and they started with intent. Memphis Depay swung a free-kick in for Islam Slimani which the former AS Monaco man headed wide before the offside flag went up against him anyway (7'). Rennes goalkeeper Alfred Gomis got to another set piece from the right ahead of Slimani soon after (19'), before Memphis attempted to take matters into his own hands, flashing an effort over the crossbar from the edge of the box. Rennes settled down as the half wore on, though, with Jérémy Doku their liveliest outlet. The Belgium winger cut inside Mattia De Sciglio and sent a left-footed effort narrowly over (30') before earning a corner which ultimately came to nothing (33). OL were unlucky not to take a lead into the interval, though, with Gomis's outstretched foot all that stopped Memphis from making it 1-0 from a tight angle (45').

Lyon pull through

Both teams were unchanged for the second half, but Lyon re-found their early rhythm and were unlucky not to pull ahead with the first attack after the restart. Karl Toko Ekambi slipped a wonderful through-ball to Memphis with the outside of his right boot, and the Dutchman, at full pace on his weaker left foot, then steered an attempt just high of the goal (47'). Memphis was unable to connect with a De Sciglio cross soon after, but when Maxence Caqueret volleyed the rebound goalward, the now-grounded OL talisman steered the shot off-target (56'). Lyon had the ball in the net when Memphis span the ball across the face of goal for second-half substitute Tino Kadewere to poke home, but the Zimbabwean was offside (67'). There were no complaints when Aouar got the game-deciding goal, though, the academy graduate - who had entered the fray at the same time as Kadewere - finishing from close range after a Memphis cutback (74').

THE PLAYER: Memphis Depay

He may not have added to his 14 league goals on Wednesday, but this was nonetheless a superlative performance from Lyon's captain, who laid on his eighth assist to seal the win. Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the only player across Europe's top five leagues by UEFA coefficient to have been involved in more shots on goal this season.

THE STAT: 5

Rennes lost away to Lyon for the first time in five meetings, having won the previous four! The last time OL took all three points at home to the Bretons was all the way back in December 2016, when Mathieu Valbuena, now of Olympiacos, scored in a 1-0 win.

AS Saint-Étienne 2-3 RC Lens

RC Lens pulled into the fifth and final European place, meanwhile, edging a five-goal thriller against AS Saint-Étienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Le Sang et Or flew into a 2-0 lead inside the first half hour. ASEE goalkeeper Jessy Moulin got touches on Florian Sotoca's penalty following Harold Moukoudi's foul on Arnaud Kalimuendo (20') andn then Kalimuendo's low shot (24'), but both ultimately slipped past him. Moukoudi made some amends at the end of the half, heading home Adil Aouchiche's corner (40').

The teams exchanged goals in injury time, David Costa finishing from close range at one end (90'+3) before Sainté replied with a Denis Bouanga penalty (90'+5) as it ended 3-2. Lens are now undefeated in seven, while Saint-Étienne have failed to win 11 of their last 12 home games.

FC Metz 0-1 Angers SCO

Lens leapfrogged FC Metz after les Grenats were beaten 1-0 at their Stade Saint-Symphorien by Angers SCO.

Angelo Fulgini gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time, his through-ball for Loïs Diony resulting in the big striker being bundled over on the box. The midfielder stepped up to send Alexandre Oukidja the wrong way with the resulting spot-kick for his fifth goal of the season (44').

Oukidja was given his marching orders in injury time for violent conduct against Souleyman Doumbia (90'+2) and it ended 1-0, Angers sealing their first win in six on the road.

Stade Brestois 29 3-1 Dijon FCO

At the other end, Dijon FCO are rooted to the foot of the table; a 3-1 defeat at Stade Brestois their latest disappointment.

Franck Honorat was the primary architect of their latest undoing, steering home Jean Lucas's cross (17') before turning provider for Steve Mounié (27'). Roger Assalé pulled one back (29') but Irvin Cardona put the game beyond doubt with a fine finish in off the post (40') and it ended 3-1.

OGC Nice 2-1 Nîmes Olympique

OGC Nice, after their recent wobble, made it back-to-back wins ahead of their Coupe France meeting with Monaco, meanwhile, beating Nîmes Olympique 2-1 at the Allianz Riviera

Visiting defender Loïck Landre cancelled out Amine Gouiri's fine early opener (4') with a header (50') but Alexis Claude-Maurice had the final say, thumping the winner beyond Baptiste Reynet (75').