French leader Rennes' 1-0 home defeat to Montpellier ended its unbeaten record in the league and Saint-Etienne blew the chance to go on top when it missed a last-gasp penalty and was held to 1-1 at home by Caen on Saturday.
Joris Marveaux, the brother of Rennes winger Sylvain Marveaux, scored for Montpellier with a header from Marco Estrada's corner in the 43rd minute.
Both teams finished with 10 men after Montpellier defender Garry Bocaly was sent off midway through the second half and Rennes striker Kader Mangane was also shown red late on.
"Football is cruel sometimes. Montpellier only had one chance and scored," Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti said. "It's a bad result for us, and unfair considering the chances we created."
In Saint-Etienne, striker Youssef El-Arabi put Caen ahead close to halftime but the home side equalized in the 82nd through forward Emmanuel Riviere.
France forward Dimitri Payet missed the chance to win it for Saint-Etienne when he whacked a penalty over the crossbar in the second minute of injury time.
Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier was scathing about his team's performance.
"Our first half was awful. We didn't play as a team, we had no spirit," Galtier said. "It's all well and good having talent, but it doesn't serve much purpose if there's no teamwork to go with it."
Toulouse won 3-1 away to Sochaux late Saturday, with all three goals coming from defenders late in the second half.
Daniel Congre scored twice, sandwiching Mauro Cetto's effort to put Toulouse 3-0 ahead, and Geoffrey Tulasne grabbed a consolation goal for Sochaux in injury time.
El-Arabi's sixth league goal of the season came when he turned in Jeremy Sorbon's cross from the right. Riviere then turned in a loose ball after goalkeeper Alexis Thebaux saved Payet's shot.
Rennes has 19 points from 10 matches, while second-place Saint-Etienne and third-place Brest are a point behind.
Newly promoted Brest enjoyed a 2-0 win at Bordeaux.
Toulouse moved up to fourth spot with 17 points, leading fifth-place Montpellier on goal difference.
Lens beat Nice 1-0, Monaco lost 2-0 at home to Valenciennes, and Nancy beat Lorient 1-0.
Romain Poyet put Brest ahead early on when he headed in a corner, and Benoit Lesoimier wrapped up the win for the visitors in the 80th after midfielder Mario Licka and striker Nolan Roux combined to set him up.
Julien Feret gave Nancy the lead in the ninth minute with a powerful strike from just inside the area after defender Bruno Ecuele Manga failed to clear Jonathan Brison's cross properly.
Lorient's Lionel Cappone was sent off in the second half.
Gregory Pujol gave Valenciennes a 32nd-minute lead with a superb finish. He controlled Carlos Sanchez's long pass on his chest, turned and hit the ball past goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.
Pujol added his second of the match in the 52nd with a diving header from right back David Ducourtioux's cross.
Issam Jemaa struck in injury time to give Lens a much-needed win near the bottom of the table.
In Sunday's games, it is: Arles vs. Lyon; Paris Saint-Germain vs. Auxerre, and Lille vs. Marseille.
