Rennes moved atop the French league standings despite a scrappy performance in beating Monaco 1-0 with a second-half penalty from striker Victor Hugo Montano on Saturday.
Rennes was whistled off the field at halftime after failing to shoot at goal and create a single chance, yet it didn't improve after the interval.
The penalty was awarded for a handball in the 64th minute, and Montano converted by sending goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier the wrong way with a powerful shot.
Rennes has 27 points, one more than Marseille, which can take back first place with a draw at Nice on Sunday.
Also on Saturday, it was: Montpellier 1, Lyon 2; Sochaux 2, Valenciennes 1; Toulouse 1, Caen 0; Lens 1, Auxerre 1; Arles 1, Nancy 1.
Monaco had the upper hand and created its first opportunity in the 30th minute when Park Chu-young dragged his volley wide from Laurent Bonnart's cross.
Guy Lacombe's side should have opened its account in the 54th after Chris Malonga set up Park in the box but the South Korean striker blasted his shot over the bar.
Rennes showed better play towards the end even though Monaco had another chance in injury time when substitute Serge Gakpe forced goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez to a beautiful fingertip save.
Monaco stayed on 15 points near the relegation zone, with the same number of points as 18th-placed Lens but a better goal difference.
At Stade de La Mosson, striker Lisandro Lopez scored a brace as Lyon moved up to third overall with 26 points while Montpellier slumped to a second consecutive defeat.
Emir Spahic thought he salvaged a draw when he leveled with a diving header in the 80th minute but Lopez scored the winner deep in injury time with a left-footed half-volley after meeting Timothee Kolodziejczak's cross while surrounded by four defenders.
Lopez put Lyon in front after five minutes when he collected Bruno Bastos' cross at the far post to beat goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren with a clinical shot.
Lyon, which was unbeaten in the league in nine matches, dominated in the first half but failed to maintain the same tempo after the interval.
France and Lyon 'keeper Hugo Lloris kept out Karim Ait-Fana's superb curled shot from the edge of the box in the 68th, and was again decisive two minutes later when he denied Olivier Giroud's fine shot with a two-fisted save.
The match between Lille and Lorient was postponed because of heavy snowfall. The game could be played on Sunday, with a pitch inspection scheduled in the morning.
Sochaux moved up to sixth with 24 points after extending its unbeaten streak in the league to five matches.
Brazilian defender Carlao put Sochaux in front from a free kick in the 16th minute after being left unmarked at the far post, and Modibo Maiga doubled the lead in the 54th at the conclusion of a swift counterattack.
Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez pulled one back for Valenciennes after defender Jeremy Brechet failed to clear the ball properly.
Paris Saint-Germain hosts Brest, and Bordeaux travels at Saint-Etienne in Sunday's other matches.
