Montpellier reclaimed the French league lead with a 3-1 over Ajaccio on Wednesday, as Lyon fell to its first defeat this season with a 1-0 loss at Caen.
Lyon had climbed atop the standings this past weekend, but lost its status as the only undefeated team in the league after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was sent off for bringing down Romain Hamouma right before halftime, and midfielder Benjamin Nivet converted the ensuing penalty.
Nivet was also sent off in the 64th after receiving a second yellow card, but Lyon couldn't find an equalizer.
Montpellier took full advantage, going up 2-0 after just nine minutes against Ajaccio after winger Remy Cabella headed home the opener and Chile midfielder Marco Estrada doubled the lead in the ninth with a direct corner kick. Nigerian forward John Utaka added the third with a low shot in the 35th, before Mehdi Mostefa pulled one back for Ajaccio in the 53rd.
Montpellier finished the match with 10 men as defender Abdelhamid El-Kaoutari was sent off in the 63rd for a violent tackle on Andy Delort.
It could be joined on 16 points atop the standings by Toulouse, which played Saint-Etienne late on Wednesday.
Struggling Marseille earned its first win of the season by beating promoted Evian 2-0 to move out of the relegation zone. Also, it was: Paris Saint-Germain 2, Nice 1; Lorient 1, Auxerre 1; Sochaux 2, Rennes 6; Dijon 1, Brest 0; Nancy 1, Valenciennes 1.
On Tuesday, defending champion Lille drew 1-1 with Bordeaux.
France forward Loic Remy scored both goals for Marseille, putting the hosts ahead in the 25th by heading in a free kick from Mathieu Valbuena and adding the second in the 74th with another header from a corner. Evian played the second half with 10 men after defender Guillaume Rippert was sent off for a second yellow card in the 43rd.
PSG needed a 71st-minute penalty by Kevin Gameiro to secure the win against Nice, after a handball from midfielder Fabrice Abriel.
PSG had taken the lead through another penalty by Brazilian midfielder Nene in the 36th after he was fouled inside the area. Nice defender Fabian Monzon leveled with a spot kick in the 61st after Eric Mouloungui was fouled by Christophe Jallet, who then picked up a second yellow card in the 77th.
In Lorient, Innocent Emeghara converted a rebound in the 23rd after Auxerre goalkeeper Olivier Sorin had parried a long-range drive from Alaixys Romao. Auxerre forward Dennis Oliech equalized with a powerful strike in the 62nd.
Sochaux was routed despite equalizing twice.
Colombian striker Victor Hugo Montano opened the scoring for Rennes with a spot kick in the 22nd, only to see Sochaux forward Edouard Butin equalize just two minutes later. Rennes defender Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik made it 2-1 by nodding home a free kick from Julien Feret in the 35th, but Sochaux replied quickly again as Modibo Maiga headed in a cross from Butin in the 41st.
It fell apart in the second half, however, as midfielder Julien Feret gave Rennes the lead for good in the 51st before Morocco forward Youssouf Hadji made it 4-2 with a spot kick in the 69th.
Montano netted again with a diagonal strike in the 71st and Jires Kembo-Ekoko completed the rout in stoppage time.
In Dijon, forward Christophe Mandanne converted a penalty in the 33rd to give the hosts the victory after Brest defender Santiago Gentiletti was sent off for tripping Gregory Thil.
In Nancy, Cameroon forward Benjamin Moukandjo scored for the hosts in the 15th with an assist from Jordan Loties.
Valenciennes replied with a goal from Renaud Cohade in the 82nd.
