With table-toppers Lyon travelling to PSG in the most-anticipated match of the French league season on Sunday, Elie Baup's side had the opportunity to move ahead of the Parisian giants with victory.

And that they did, with the visitors defeating a nine-man Toulouse despite Ghanaian Andre Ayew missing a first-half penalty.

Senegalese defender Cheikh M'Bengue was given a straight red card on 28 minutes before Franck Tabanou gave away a penalty five minutes before the break.

Ayew fluffed the spot-kick before Tabanou was handed a second yellow card, giving Marseille a considerable numerical advantage.

And Elie Baup's side made it count when French forward Andre-Pierre Gignac scored the only goal of the game after 68 minutes.

Nice moved to fourth after a 3-2 come-from-behind win against Evian TG.

Yannick Sagbo and Cedric Barbosa scored for Evian inside the first 15 minutes to stun the home fans at Stade Municipal du Ray.

But the hosts came back fighting and Argentine Dario Cvitanich quickly pulled a goal back.

Cvitanich's second on 47 minutes levelled proceedings before substitute Neal Maupay – who had only been on the pitch for five minutes – scored the winner in the second minute of second-half injury time.

Reigning champions Montpellier cruised to a 4-0 home success against Bastia.

Marcos Estrada opened the scoring on 14 minutes before second-half strikes from Emanuel Herrera, Younes Belhanda and Anthony Mounier sealed victory for Rene Girard's side.

In other results, Troyes climbed off the bottom of the table with a 3-2 win against a fast-finishing Ajaccio while Reims and Lille played out a 1-1 draw.

Second-half goals to Kamel Chafni and Eden Ben Basat helped Brest to a 2-1 triumph at struggling Sochaux.