PARIS (AP) -Six-time defending champion Lyon ended its two-game losing streak in French league Sunday, beating Saint-Etienne 1-0 by converting a rebound early in the second half.
Lyon lost only five games all of last season, including three in a four-game stretch in January-February.
"In the current situation, we needed to regain some self-confidence," Lyon coach Alain Perrin told Canal Plus Television.
Juninho broke through the Saint-Etienne defense in the 53rd before cutting the ball back in the area. Center back Efstathios Tavlaridis redirected Juninho's cross off the far post, but Karim Benzema pounced on the rebound to score.
"It was a derby so we had to win this game," Benzema told Canal Plus Television. "We had two consecutive losses. We needed to show a different face."
Lyon climbed two places to 10th with six points from four games.
Earlier Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Lille 1-1 on late goal from substitute Pierre-Alain Frau.
On Saturday, Nancy routed Auxerre 4-1 for its fourth win in five games, took over the league lead and remained one of only three unbeaten teams in La Championnat with 13 points. Lorient drew 2-2 at Bordeaux and was two points back in second.
Also Saturday it was: Caen 1, Marseille 2; Monaco 3, Le Mans 1; Nice 1, Toulouse 1; Rennes 2, Metz 0; Valenciennes 3, Sochaux 1 and Strasbourg 2, Lens 1, forcing the resignation of Lens manager Guy Roux after an 0-2-2 start.
On Sunday, in a game with few clear chances, Juninho was Lyon's most dangerous weapon.
The Brazilian playmaker struck a curling free kick in the 64th that goalkeeper Jeremie Janot pushed around the post.
Janot had to tip over the crossbar a floating free kick from 30 meters by Juninho in the 15th.
The Saint-Etienne keeper also blocked with his legs an angled shot from Kader Keita in the 36th after the Ivory Coast winger had beaten Mouhamadou Dabo on the left flank.
