Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 2-1 Saturday in the French league to keep up its title challenge.
"It's the first time this season that we win three straight games," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told the club's website. "It's a very good thing for us because the other teams are winning too."
Lucho Gonzalez opened the scoring for Marseille in the 68th minute after being set up by Andre-Pierre Gignac.
Gignac picked up a groin injury however and will miss the Champions League clash against Manchester United next Wednesday. The Marseille forward was replaced by Jordan Ayew in the 74th. Ayew was denied by Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Jeremie Janot in the 78th but Loic Remy followed up to convert the rebound.
Christophe Landrin scored a consolation goal for Saint-Etienne in stoppage time.
Also Saturday, it was: Lorient 5, Bordeaux 1; Brest 2, Monaco 0; Lens 2, Sochaux 3; Caen 2, Valenciennes 2; Auxerre 1, Arles-Avignon 1.
Lorient midfielder Morgan Amalfitano chested down a long pass to chip Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso in the 14th before France international Kevin Gameiro flicked home a low cross from Lynel Kitambala to increase Lorient's lead in the 35th.
Gameiro added a third in the 38th, but two minutes later, Bordeaux midfielder Fernando headed home a free kick from Jaroslav Plasil in the 40th to give his team some hope.
Lorient extended its lead again in the 59th - eventually. Arnold Mvuemba converted a spotkick after Plasil's handball but the referee ordered it to be retaken.
Lorient fullback Franco Sosa's complaints earned him a second yellow card and a sending off, before Mvuemba finally scored at the second attempt to make it 4-1.
Gameiro earned a hat trick in the 88th to put the result beyond doubt and become the second most prolific striker in the league with 15 goals this season, one behind Lille forward Moussa Sow.
In Brest, Jonathan Ayite tucked in a free kick from Bruno Grougi in the 14th. The Brest forward converted a penalty kick in the 89th to seal the win.
Ryad Boudebouz gave the victory to Sochaux with a free kick that deflected off the Lens wall to beat a wrongfooted Vedran Runje in the 66th.
Sochaux opened the scoring after six minutes, when a long-range strike from Nicolas Maurice-Belay deflected off a Lens defender and into the net.
Modibo Maiga notched his 10th goal this season with a downward header to double the lead in the 30th.
Tunisia striker Issam Jemaa pulled one back for Lens with a diagonal shot in the 36th.
Lens defender Alaeddine Yahia headed in from close range to equalize in the 59th.
Both teams were down to 10 men in the 41st when Lens forward Toifilou Maoulida and Sochaux midfielder Kevin Anin were sent off for locking horns.
In Caen, Benjamin Nivet put the hosts ahead in the 47th with a header. Caen midfielder Sambou Yatabare made it 2-0 with a powerful strike into the top corner in the 64th.
But Valenciennes forward Gregory Pujol cut Caen's lead in the 80th, raising his tally to 10 goals this season.
Midfielder Steeven Langil capitalized on a defensive blunder from Caen defender Gregory Tafforeau to salvage a draw for Valenciennes in the 88th.
In Auxerre, Poland forward Ireneusz Jelen equalized for the hosts with a powerful strike in the 84th after Deme N'Diaye had put Arles-Avignon ahead in the 65th.
On Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain faces Nice and Rennes takes on Toulouse.
