Lille are top of the French league, undefeated and with the fewest goals conceded, after beating northern rivals Lens 4-0 on Sunday to move two points above defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
PSG have won five straight games but are playing catchup after losing their first two, and still have to play twice against Christophe Galtier's well-drilled Lille, which places a high emphasis on teamwork.
Although Lens had right back Jonathan Gradit sent off in the 57th minute, they were already losing 2-0 after goals from Turkey veteran Burak Yilmaz and attacking midfielder Jonathan Bamba.
France forward Jonathan Ikone made it 3-0 in the 69th and, after Lens defender Clement Michelin was red carded soon after, Turkey midfielder Yusuf Yazici made it 4-0 from Bamba's second assist.
Coach Patrick Vieira's Nice moved up to fourth place following a convincing 3-1 win at Saint-Etienne, who drop to midtable after a positive start to the season.
Midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou, forward Amine Gouiri and substitute Myziane Maolida scored for Nice.
Earlier, Memphis Depay showed Barcelona just what they're missing by setting up all of Lyon's goals in a 3-2 win at struggling Strasbourg.
The Netherlands forward was wanted by Barca coach and countryman Ronald Koeman.
He was close to joining during the recent transfer window, but the Spanish giants needed to sell a player before buying him and failed to do so.
Barcelona were poor in attack when losing 1-0 at Getafe on Saturday.
Striker Tino Kadewere netted his first goal for Lyon in the 12th after being set up by Depay, and midfielder Lucas Paqueta had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after as Lyon dominated.
The second goal came in the 26th when forward Karl Toko Ekambi scored after a fine run and cross from Depay, who then beat two players before teeing up Ekambi again in the 42nd.
Strasbourg replied one minute later through new signing Habib Diallo and Jean-Eudes Aholou pulled another goal back shortly after the break.
Striker Wissam Ben Yedder scored his fourth goal in four games for Monaco, with his 70th-minute penalty earning a 1-1 home draw with 10-man Montpellier.
The visitors had midfielder Teji Savanier sent off in the 19th for a high tackle and Ben Yedder had a goal ruled offside minutes later.
Montpellier netted in the 51st when left back Djibril Sidibe fell and English striker Stephy Mavididi ran through from the halfway line before finishing confidently.
In other matches, Angers drew 1-1 with Metz 1 while Nantes beat Brest 3-1.
Australian Associated Press
