Caen, who are struggling in the relegation zone, held PSG goalless for 40 minutes at the Parc des Princes before Guillaume Hoarau opened the scoring for the hosts.

Turkey international Mevlut Erdinc made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half, and while Moroccan Youssef El Arabi pulled one back for Caen in the 85th minute, PSG saw out the closing stages to claim a win that puts them top of the league on goal difference.

Stade Rennes went second, level on points with PSG, courtesy of a 2-1 win at home to Brest, who dropped from first to fourth.

Jires Ekoko put the home side ahead six minutes before the break at the Stade de la Route de Lorient and Jerome Leroy doubled the lead with a strike in the 82nd minute.

Brest's Bruno Grougi scored a consolation penalty shortly before the final whistle, but was unable to prevent his side from surrendering their lead at the top of the table.

Defending champions Marseille are one point behind the front two after a 1-0 win away to Toulouse.

The home side kept Marseille out for the opening 45 minutes, and Nigeria international Taye Taiwo missed a chance to put the visitors in front when he failed to convert a penalty in the 55th minute.

Toulouse appeared set to claim a valuable point before Ghana international Andre Ayew snatched all three points for Marseille with a strike two minutes before the final whistle.

Nancy claimed a 2-0 win at home to fellow strugglers Valenciennes, with the goals coming in each half from Andre Luiz and Marama Vahirua at the Stade Marcel Picot.

Sochaux emerged 2-0 winners from their mid-table clash with Lorient. Mali international Modibo Maiga put Sochaux ahead in the 29th minute and Brown Ideye added the second shortly before the hour mark.

Jean-Pascal Mignot put Auxerre one up away to St Etienne, but a Loic Perrin equaliser secured the hosts a share of the spoils at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard.