Olympique Lyon claimed sole possession of fourth place after defeating Lorient 1-0 late Sunday night.
Lyon survived an early penalty claim when Cris tripped striker Kevin Monnet-Paquet and referee Philippe Kalt consulted with his linesman before deciding to give a freekick on the edge of the penalty area.
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren missed a great chance to put Lyon ahead in the 28th, but he headed Yoann Gourcuff’s cross straight at goalkeeper Fabien Audard.
Moments after Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris made a save from Joel Campbell, Lacazette put Lyon in front in the 54th, firing the ball home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Lyon missed further chances to score a second goal as Jimmy Briand, Bafetimbi Gomis, Lacazette, and Ederson with a dipping freekick, all went close.
“We worked hard but we just couldn’t quite get that second goal,” Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom said. “We were very surprised that Lorient didn’t attack more in the second half, especially as we scored quite early on.”
Lyon rested striker Lisandro Lopez, but the 20-year-old Lacazette filled in well, grabbing his third goal of the season.
“If he keeps going like this he’ll have a great future,” Kallstrom said.
Also Sunday, Dennis Oliech scored one goal and made the other as Auxerre moved away from the relegation zone with a 2-1 home win against struggling Nice.
Oliech put Auxerre ahead in the 13th minute with his seventh league goal of the season, but the lead was short-lived as Eric Mouloungui leveled shortly after.
Oliech nipped ahead of defender Fabian Monzon and met Sahar’s cross from the left with a header that looped over ‘keeper David Ospina.
Mouloungui’s equalizer in the 21st was expertly taken, as he controlled a pass from Renato Civelli with his back to goal, turned and hit a clean strike into the top corner.
Sahar went close to putting Nice ahead in the 63rd only for Ospina to kick his shot away, but Sahar made amends moments later when he headed in Oliech’s cross.
The win moved Auxerre up to 13th place, while Nice stays in the relegation zone in 19th.
