Three goals in the first half condemned Monaco to a seventh game without a win, with strikes from Abdul Kader Keita (20 and 38) and Fred (35) doing the damage.

Victory for Alain Perrin's troops leaves second-placed Bordeaux under enormous pressure to win at home against Strasbourg on Sunday in order to lessen the prospect of Lyon cantering to their seventh domestic crown in succession.

Lyon's win saw third-placed Nancy slip 11 points off the lead after they were held 1-1 at Sochaux.

Mevlut Erding fired the hosts ahead after 55 minutes but battling Nancy never gave up hope and snatched an equaliser through substitute Monsef Zerka in the 82nd minute.

Nice are up to fifth place after a 2-1 win on the road at rock-bottom Metz.

Habib Bamogo fired the Mediterranean side ahead on 41 minutes but Miralem Pjanic equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot three minutes after the restart.

Nice claimed the three points when Honorato Ederson also converted from the spot after 55 minutes.

Lille are seventh following a fine 5-0 win at home to 10-man Caen.

Goals from Stephan Lichtsteiner (34) and Yohan Cabaye (45) had the hosts 2-0 up at the interval and well on course for the three points.

Caen's day took a further nosedive on the hour-mark when their goalkeeper Benoit Costil saw red after committing a foul on Kevin Mirallas in the area that allowed Cabaye to add his second from the penalty spot.

Pierre-Alain Frau made it 4-0 two minutes from time while Lichtsteiner completed the rout in the dying moments.

Paris St Germain remain mired in trouble at the wrong end of the table after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Valenciennes.

Valenciennes were gifted the lead when Marcos Ceara put through his own net on 52 minutes but veteran striker Pedro Pauleta (80) popped up with the equaliser for PSG, who are only outside the relegation zone by dint of better goal difference over Sochaux.

Le Mans have slipped to sixth place after coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw at home to Rennes.

Olivier Thomert fired the visitors in front seven minutes before half-time but Vinicius De Melo secured a share of the spoils for Le Mans with the leveller on 49 minutes.

Elsewhere, Lorient were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Auxerre.

Jean-Sebastien Jaures put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot on 73 minutes but Lorient went straight up the other end and levelled through Rafik Saifi just 60 seconds later.

The day's other game saw Toulouse secure a goalless draw at St Etienne, who finished the game with 10 men after Moustafa Sall saw red with three minutes remaining.