PARIS (AP) -Defending champion Bordeaux lost its first home match this season, going down 1-0 to Valenciennes on Saturday to let Lyon go level on points in the French league.
Lyon was held 1-1 at last-place Grenoble. Both Bordeaux and Lyon have 25 points. Auxerre, which played Monaco later Saturday, can snatch top spot with a victory.
In Bordeaux, Tunisia midfielder Fahid Ben Khalfallah pulled the ball back for Mamadou Samassa, who beat goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso with a diagonal shot in the eighth minute to raise his tally to five goals this season.
Bordeaux missed playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who injured his groin Wednesday in France's infamous World Cup qualifier against Ireland. Morocco forward Marouane Chamakh joined the list of injured Bordeaux players as he had a bruised hip and was replaced by David Bellion in the 17th.
In Grenoble, Bafetimbi Gomis set up Argentine forward Cesar Delgado, who opened the scoring for Lyon in the 65th.
Grenoble was down to 10 men in the 70th after Laurent Courtois was sent off but managed to equalize in the 72nd when substitute Danijel Ljuboja outpaced the Lyon defense to collect a long pass and beat France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Also Saturday it was: Lens 2, Nancy 1 and Rennes 2, Le Mans 1.
In Lens, Paul Alo'o Efoulou notched his fourth goal this season to give Nancy the lead. Alo'o Efoulou received a headed pass from Morocco midfielder Youssouf Hadji before firing home from close range in the 52nd.
Tunisia forward Issam Jemaa leveled for Lens in the 81st, converting a rebound after goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano had stopped a shot from Toifilou Maoulida.
Three minutes later, Bracigliano could only deflect a cross from Sebastien Roudet into the path of Kevin Monnet-Paquet, who tucked home the winner.
In Rennes, Senegal defender Kader Mangane put the host side ahead in the eighth minute, slotting home after goalkeeper Didier Ovono missed the ball from a corner by Sylvain Marveau.
But Belgium forward Roland Lamah equalized for Le Mans with a strike from the edge of the box in the 53rd.
Asamoah Gyan beat the offside trap in the 80th to slip the ball past Ovono and give Rennes the victory. The Ghana forward consolidated his spot as the second most prolific striker in the league with seven goals.
Le Mans lost its fourth straight match to remain in the relegation zone with eight points.
On Sunday, Nice hosts Toulouse, Saint-Etienne faces Lorient and Lille visits Montpellier.
