Rennes saw the chasing pack close on them as the third-placed Bretons were held 1-1 at Lille on Sunday. Monaco are now just a point behind after a 2-0 victory at Toulouse while Côte d'Azur neighbours Nice also won.
THE MATCH
Monaco had triumphed earlier in the day to edge level with Rennes — behind only on goal difference — and Bruno Genesio's men had a tough test in Lille, despite arriving in northern France on the back of five straight wins.
Benjamin Bourigeaud — formerly on the books of LOSC's derby neighbours Lens — fired in the first effort (11'), but it was the hosts who forged ahead early on. André Gomes and Rémy Cabella were both involved in the build-up, and Jose Fonte scrambled home after the visiting defence failed to clear and Steve Mandanda could not hold on to the ball (16').
Cabella forced his former Marseille teammate into a save (25'), Timothy Weah fired just wide (36'), and Jonathan David shot straight at Mandanda (40') as the hosts, who had won their last three home games, sought to build on their lead.
Their urgency was justified when Rennes, who had former LOSC man Xeka starting in their midfield, pegged them back. Jonathan Bamba was punished for a pull on Christopher Wooh, and Bourigeaud gleefully punished the hosts from the penalty spot to register his first league goal of the season (58').
Tiago Djalo saw a header strike a post (65)' and David again found Mandanda instead of the net (67') before the Canada international striker also hit an upright with a header (71'), the 12th time Paulo Fonseca's unfortunate team have struck the woodwork this term.
Bamba (78') and former Rennes man Benjamin André (90+2') were both denied by Mandanda as Rennes, who also survived the last-minute red card for Birger Meling, battled to a point.
THE PLAYER: Timothy Weah
The USMNT forward shone…as a makeshift right-back in a four-man back line. Got forward well, but also defended stoically.
THE STAT: 4
Bourigeaud has scored four Ligue 1 Uber Eats goals against LOSC, the most he has struck against any top-flight opponent in his career.
Aleksandr Golovin scored for the second successive game for the first time in his career, netting in the opening minute of the second half to pave the way for Monaco's 2-0 success at Toulouse with Breel Embolo getting the other goal (60'). Gaëtan Laborde got the only goal (54') as Nice won 1-0 at Brest to move into the top half of the table, extending their unbeaten run with a third win in five games. Folarin Balogun scored his eighth goal of the season — and his third penalty (82') — as Reims defeated Nantes 1-0, while Clermont missed two penalties and Téji Savanier scored one for Montpellier (10') as the pair played out a 1-1 draw with Komnen Andric getting the hosts' equaliser (62').
