Ten-man Lyon held on for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Nice to move top of Ligue 1 on Sunday, as previous pace-setters Monaco lost for the first time this season.
Five teams are level on 14 points at the top of the table with Lyon heading Paris Saint-Germain, Paris FC, Lille and Monaco on goal difference.
Lyon head to PSG next weekend.
There’s a 5 team tie atop Ligue 1… with Lyon leading the way 🍿 https://t.co/flTA5zEKXH
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2026
"It's good to be top but it's not the most important thing," said Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca.
"But having 14 points is very positive. Of course, that gives us confidence and greater responsibilities, but at this stage of the season it changes nothing."
It was a close run affair for Lyon, playing in front of local boy and French cycling prodigy Paul Seixas, following Keito Nakamura's dismissal 20 minutes from time.
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi, who opened the scoring for Nice on 18 minutes with his second goal of the season, was denied an injury-time equaliser by a razor-tight offside call.
Two goals in three minutes turned the game around by halftime as Pavel Sulc equalised by prodding home a rebound and Tanner Tessmann headed the hosts in front.
LYON GETS THE WIN AT HOME 🦁 https://t.co/cbySyN6UPU
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2026
Veteran Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel headed against the bar early in the second half while Wahi hit the post with a close-range header, shortly after Nakamura was dismissed for a high boot.
Noah Cadiou's second-half penalty for Lorient prevented Monaco from returning to the top of Ligue 1 as the principality outfit fell to a 1-0 defeat in Brittany on Sunday.
Wing back Dembo Sylla earned the penalty on the hour mark at the Stade du Moustoir as he was felled by Monaco captain Denis Zakaria.
Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky dived the right way, but Cadiou placed his spot-kick into the corner, to hand Monaco their first league defeat of the season.
STUNNING BICYCLE KICK
Paris FC joined the leading quintet as Lassine Sinayoko's injury-time penalty gave them a 4-3 victory over Rennes, who dropped to fifth, a point behind the leading five, despite forward Esteban Lepaul's hat-trick of penalties.
CRAZY GAME IN PARIS 🤯🤌 https://t.co/RhT9rBFSXE
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2026
Maxime Lopez twice gave the hosts the lead, only for Lepaul, who earned his first France cap in the recent international window, to equalise from the spot.
Lassine Sinayoko looked to have given PFC the victory 14 minutes from time with a stunning overhead bicycle kick, only for Brazilian substitute Otavio's clumsy handball to hand Lepaul the chance to level up a third time.
But Sinayoko had the last word, drilling home his penalty after VAR intervened to punish Valentin Rongier's shirt tug on the Mali forward.
🇲🇱 2 goals + 2 assists today 🇲🇱 Bicycle kick goal 🇲🇱 Game winning goal in the 94’ 🇲🇱 Ligue 1 runner up top scorer 🇲🇱 9 G/A in 7 matches with Paris FC LASSINE SINAYOKO. 🤯⭐️ https://t.co/o3vIRAq0LQ
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2026
Marseille picked up a much-needed win as they thumped Angers 5-2 to pull away from the relegation zone.
Lilian Raolisoa gave Angers the lead but Marseille replied with goals before halftime from Himad Abdelli and Nouhoum Kamissoko.
Marseille make it 10 unbeaten vs Angers! 🔟🩵 https://t.co/jjY8rxawDa
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2026
Amine Gouiri scored his fifth goal of the season for Marseille when he tucked home the rebound after his penalty was saved by Anthony Lopes.
Amine El Ouazzani struck from the spot to pull a goal back for Angers but late efforts from Amine Harit and Igor Paixao wrapped up just a third win in seven league matches for Marseille.
Bruno Genesio's side began the weekend above the relegation play-off spot only on goal difference, having also lost their first two games in the Europa League.
Winless Le Havre remain rooted to the foot of the table as Cameroon forward Danny Namaso's brace helped Auxerre come away from Normandy with a 3-1 victory and put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.