Bordeaux earned a third straight win by defeating second-place Lille 1-0 Sunday in the French league to get back in the race for a European spot.
Bordeaux midfielder Landry N'Guemo fired a long-range strike in the 27th minute that deflected off Lille defender Simon Kjaer to beat goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who had not conceded a goal in his previous 11 league games.
Lille lost ground in the title race, trailing leader Paris Saint-Germain by four points, while Bordeaux went level on points with fifth-place Marseille.
''We were not at the races this afternoon,'' Lille midfielder Rio Mavuba told BeIn Sport television. ''We were beaten in our heads. They showed more desire than us.''
The hosts dominated the first half and could have reached the break with a bigger lead, but Bordeaux striker Jussie flicked a low cross from Mariano over the bar in the fifth minute and Enyeama denied playmaker Ludovic Obraniak in the 37th and 40th.
Bordeaux went down to 10 men in the 58th when defender Maxime Poundje was sent off for clattering into Lille fullback Franck Beria.
A resilient Bordeaux side managed to protect its slim lead thanks to N'Guemo clearing a bicycle kick from Lille leftback Pape Souare off the line in the 84th.
''We've missed that solidarity to make the difference in some games,'' Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso said. ''There's a state of mind which is emerging. We must try to keep it.''
Monaco played Ajaccio later Sunday, Lyon faced Bastia and Montpellier visited Toulouse.
On Saturday, it was: Paris Saint-Germain 5, Sochaux 0; Reims 1, Nice 0; Lorient 2, Rennes 0; and Valenciennes 1, Guingamp 1. The match between Saint-Etienne and Evian was postponed because of a frozen pitch.
Marseille coach Elie Baup was dismissed Saturday after the 2010 champion lost 1-0 to Nantes the day before. Baup was replaced by sporting director Jose Anigo who will be in charge until the winter break.
