Messi grabbed the winning goal as PSG beat Toulouse 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Branco van den Boomen had given the visitors a shock lead, but Achraf Hakimi equalised before teeing up Messi to curl home a trademark finish, the Argentine World Cup winner pulling up to 10 for the campaign.

"I ask the team to play and work for Leo," explained PSG coach Christophe Galtier. "We must free him of certain tasks. His teammates have work hard to get the ball back and create movement so he can play those passes, which are so rare in today's football, in such tight spaces."

Marseille slip up

Olympique de Marseille lost ground on the league leaders after going down 3-1 to south coast rivals OGC Nice at the Orange Vélodrome.

Ruslan Malinovskyi bagged his first goal for Marseille following his winter arrival from Atalanta, but his strike was drowned out by Nice goals from Sofiane Diop, Gaëtan Laborde and Bilal Brahimi.

"It was a difficult match against a team that is enjoying a good period of form," said a philosophical Igor Tudor after the match. "But I can't blame my players. I can't tell them they haven't chased or created things. They wanted to do well."

PSG and OM meet in le Classique next time out, in Wednesday's Coupe de France last 16.

Lens lose focus

RC Lens complete the Ligue 1 Uber Eats podium, although they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Stade Brestois 29 on Sunday, missing the cance to leapfrog Marseille. Jérémy Le Douaron looked to have stolen the win for les Pirates but Jonathan Gradit equalised seven minutes from time.

"We knew Brest were very dangerous on transitions and from set pieces," said Sang et Or manager Franck Haise. "We gifted them too many chances. The team dug deep and were rewarded with a draw, which was fair."

European chase

AS Monaco remain in possession of the fourth European place, which ensures qualification to next season's UEFA Europa League group stage, after beating Clermont Foot 63 2-0, Guillermo Maripan and Breel Embolo getting them early goals at the Stade Gabriel Montpied which they defended well. 

Stade Rennais FC are in the fifth and final European place, but LOSC are closing the gap having won their head-to-head 3-1 on Saturday. Edon Zhegrova played a starring role with a goal and two assists, while Rémy Cabella and André Gomes were also on target for les Dogues.

Lift off for Lyon?

Olympique Lyonnais might have backed themselves to be among the European reckoning before the season kicked off but they have at least picked up seven of the last nine possible points in beating ESTAC Troyes 3-1 on Saturday. Youngsters Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki were on target for Laurent Blanc's men before Alexandre Lacazette added to the scoreline late on.

At the other end of the table, RC Strasbourg Alsace gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 2-0 victory over Montpellier Hérault SC. Habib Diallo bagged a brace before Jean-Eudes Aholou was sent off but le Racing held on.

Relegation trouble

They are now on the same points as AC Ajaccio (18) but with a superior goal-difference, after the Corsicans were beaten 2-0 by FC Nantes, who left it late before goals from Evann Guessand and Ludovic Blas.

Below them, Angers SCO remain rooted to the foot of the table with AJ Auxerre five points better off in 19th. Both held their opponents to goalless draws on Sunday, les Scoïstes away to FC Lorient and Auxerre at home to Stade de Reims.