Having lost to Marseille last weekend, Les Girondins appeared to be back on the right track when Marouane Chamakh fired them in front after 60 minutes.

But Grenoble dug deep and Bostjan Cesar earned them their second draw on the trot in Ligue 1.

The result leaves Laurent Blanc's side four points behind leaders Lyon.

Struggling Auxerre leapt up to 12th with an impressive 2-0 victory over Lille, whose poor away record continues.

Two first-half goals in four minutes from Ireneusz Jelen and Kamel Chafni were enough to give Auxerre all three points and the only sour note for the hosts was the dismissal of Thomas Kahlenberg 15 minutes from time.

Coach Jean Fernandez was also sent to the stands for protesting five minutes later.

Mahamane Traore's last-minute goal snatched all three points for Nice as both sides ended a heated match at the Stade Leon Bollee with 10 men.

Thorstein Helstad gave Le Mans a second-half lead before Traore tapped home in the dying minutes after Emerse Fae had levelled.

Gregory Cerdan and Loic Remi were sent off for fighting with 15 minutes left.

A late goal by Jimmy Briand ensured Rennes claimed a deserved draw with Nancy.

The hosts were trailing with just three minutes to go when Petter Hansson crossed to Briand who received the ball and fired home from close range to beat Gennaro Bracigliano.

Nancy had gone ahead through Youssouf Hadji - who was a constant threat - just before the hour mark.

Caen and Lorient must continue their search for wins after cancelling each other out.

Caen entered without a win in seven while Lorient had played five games without victory, but those runs were both extended as Lorient's Rafik Saifi struck in the 47th minute to cancel out Steve Savidan's first-half goal.

Lorient's evening finished on a sour note as Benjamin Genton was sent off in the final minute.

Valenciennes extended their unbeaten run to six matches but remain in the relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Nantes.

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In the late game, Paris Saint-Germain maintained their title challenge with a 2-1 win over St Etienne.

Young defender Mamadou Sakho opened the scoring for the Parisiens in the 26th minute.

Dimitri Payet soon levelled for the visitors, but Jeremy Clement's 37th minute strike proved to be the winner for the capital club.