Third-placed Lyon moved to within one point of French league leader Lille and warmed up for its trip to Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win at Sochaux on Saturday.
Striker Lisandro Lopez scored his 12th goal this season and midfielder Miralem Pjanic added another to help Claude Puel's team extend its unbeaten run in all competition to seven matches.
Lille hosts Valenciennes on Sunday in the northern derby and leads Rennes on goal difference.
Following a difficult start to the season, Lyon has bounced back to top form and lost just once in its last 21 league games.
Ahead of next week's match at Santiago Bernabeu, Lyon is unbeaten in seven Champions League matches against Real Madrid after the teams drew 1-1 in the first leg.
Also on Saturday, it was: Arles-Avignon 3, Lorient 3; Lens 0, Toulouse 1; Nancy 2, Caen 0; Nice 1, Auxerre 0 and Saint-Etienne 2, Brest 0.
Lopez was a constant threat and had a first opportunity after eight minutes when he controlled the ball on the edge of the box but fired his right-footed shot just inches wide.
Six minutes later, Lopez met Michel Bastos' low pass and unleashed a shot towards the top corner only to see the ball brush against the left post.
Lopez finally put the visitors in front in the 22nd minute with a clean finish following a one-on-one with goalkeeper Pierrick Cros, after Bafetimbi Gomis set him up with a throughball in the back of the defense.
Sochaux forward Modibo Maiga went close in the 28th when he met Ryad Boudebouz's fine cross with a header saved by Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Sochaux came back on the pitch with more vigor but Cros was almost caught out and forced to a two-fisted save following Gomis' swift counterattack down the left flank in the 51st minute.
Pjanic then gave Lyon more room to breathe in the 64th with a powerful left-footed strike from Jeremy Pied's fine serve.
