Benzema keeps Lyon ticking
Lyon joined Marseille at the top of the French first division on Sunday after a Karim Benzema special earned the champions a 1-0 win in the derby tie at Saint Etienne.
The fast rising star of French football struck in the 55th minute with a low right-footed curving shot that eluded the diving Jody Viviani to slip in by the far post.
Benzema was replaced by Frederic Piquionne in the 73rd minute and the substitute almost struck gold with his first kick of the game, Viviani doing well to edge his shot from the right over the crossbar.
Benzema's goal had the twin effect of lifting Lyon up to ten points and on level pegging with Marseille, 2-1 winners over Sochaux 24 hours earlier, and of maintaining their unbeaten record at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium stretching back to the 1993/94 season.
This hardly unexpected defeat against a team going for an unprecedented eighth consecutive title left Saint Etienne third from bottom.
Earlier Sunday Bordeaux, touted as serious contenders to Lyon this season, lost ground on the leaders with a 2-1 loss at Lille for their second away defeat of the campaign.
Sunday's other early match resulted in a goalless draw between Toulouse and Rennes.
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