Lille regained the Ligue 1 lead from Marseille in emphatic fashion on Saturday, thumping relegated Arles 5-0.Ivory Coast international Gervinho scored a first-half brace for the hosts at the Stade Lille-Metropole.
Mathieu Debuchy made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on 48 minutes, before late goals from Yohan Cabaye and David Rozehnal completed the scoring.
Lille are back into first place by two points ahead of defending champions Marseille, who play Auxerre on Sunday.
In other matches, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Valenciennes 3-1 thanks to goals from Nene, Mathieu Bodmer and Mamadou Sakho.
PSG, fourth in the table, are level on points with third-place Lyon.
Lens’ survival hopes took a blow after they gave up a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Lorient.
Kevin Gameiro equalised for Lorient with his second of the match on 83 minutes, before Morgan Amalfitano’s penalty in the 92nd minute snatched all three points for the visitors.
The defeat leaves Lens second bottom, eight points away from safety with five matches remaining.
Edouard Butin’s 12th-minute goal gave Sochaux a 1-0 win at home to Nancy.
Bakaye Traore missed a second half penalty for the visitors.
The defeat leaves Nancy 17th, two points above Caen, who can climb out of the relegation zone if they beat Nice on Sunday.
Fourth-placed Rennes fell four points behind PSG after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Bordeaux.
