With just a week to go before the winter break leaders Lyon and Lille showed their fatigue being held 1-1 at Ajaccio and Paris Saint Germain respectively, as Sochaux dropped to fourth after a goalless draw at Strasbourg.

Marseille are nine points off Lyon and four behind Lille.

Troussier, who succeeded Jose Anigo as Marseille coach, has earned a reputation for turning around the fortunes of modest African clubs, earning him the nickname 'the white witch doctor'.

And he continued to work his magic with Marseille as the southern French outfit built on their revival after slipping to seventh in the table and are now sitting third with 28 points from 17 games.

Champions Lyon, still unbeaten this sason, held their five-point cushion on second placed Lille despite being held 1-1 at Ajaccio, as their leading rivals suffered the same fate at Parc des Princes.

A last gasp goal from Waldir Lucas Pereira held Lyon in Corsica.

Lucas scored two minutes into extra time off a centre from defender Xavier Collin after Juninho had looked as if he had scored the winner for the champions after 88 minutes of play.

PSG, who have been deprived of the touchline wisdom of their coach Vahid Halilhodzic for the next two months, failed to fire in their home tie ahead of Tuesday's Champions League tie against CSKA Moscow.

The Bosnian has been banished to the stands after losing his cool with the referee in PSG's game against Lyon last month.

Monaco move up two spots to fifth after beating Rennes 2-0 on Friday which put an end to their nine-match run without a win.

Auxerre, meanwhile, drop one spot to fifth after a goalless draw at home to Bordeaux.