Yohan Cabaye missed a first-half penalty for the hosts but strikes from Aurelien Chedjou, Eden Hazard and Moussa Sow secured the points to mark a week that saw manager Rudi Garcia handed a new contract in fine style.

The win moved them clear of second-placed Marseille, who visit Lens tomorrow night.

Youssef El Arabi got a late consolation for Caen, who remain just a few places above the relegation zone.

Third-placed Rennes lost further ground in the title race as they were held to a goalless home draw by fourth-bottom Auxerre.

Frederic Antonetti's side have seen their tilt at the French crown dented in recent weeks and they showed little sign of getting back on track tonight as they failed to break down their struggling visitors, who grew in confidence and posed the greater threat towards the end.

Paris St Germain's Champions League qualification hopes suffered a setback as they failed to find a way past Lorient.

The hosts carved out plenty of chances but were denied by a combination of poor finished and an impressive display from goalkeeper Fabien Audard in the 0-0 draw.

Montpellier maintained their European push thanks to a 1-0 win at Toulouse, secured by Souleymane Camara's goal with a quarter of an hour remaining.

A stoppage-time winner from Brown Ideye helped Sochaux to a dramatic 2-1 win over Brest.

Ryad Boudebouz had put the hosts ahead with a seventh-minute penalty, before Bruno Grougi levelled with a spot-kick of his own midway through the second half before Ideye's intervention.

Nancy continued their impressive run by holding Bordeaux to a goalless draw to pull further clear of the relegation battle they were very much a part of only a few weeks ago.

Goals by Benjamin Moukandjo and Chu-Young Park earned a vital 2-0 win for Monaco against a desperate Arles team who had to play for 88 minutes with just 10 men.

Gregory Lorenzi was given a straight red card in the second minute for a foul on Park when he was the last defender, and it set the tone for the Avignon side who have just one league victory this season.