PARIS: Bordeaux maintained their title push with a 2-0 win against Sochaux which ensures their French championship duel with Lyon will go down to a nail-biting finale next week.

Lyon, the six-time consecutive champions, emerged 1-0 winners from their home encounter with a Nancy team, fighting to retain third place, to maintain their two-point lead over Bordeaux.

However, the display from Alain Perrin's champions is likely to give Bordeaux renewed hope that Auxerre can cause an upset against Lyon in Burgundy next week.

Perrin said afterwards: "We did what we needed to do at home and I congratulate the players for their performance and commitment and I could see that after the first quarter hour.

"We just had to be patient and we eventually got the winning goal."
Paris Saint Germain moved out of the drop zone after a share of the points from a 1-1 draw with Saint Etienne that could prove beyond value.

Thanks to 2-1 defeats for Lens and Toulouse by Lille and Rennes respectively, PSG move out of the relegation zone to fifth from bottom.

Strasbourg, however, were relegated, along with Metz whose fate was decide previously, following their 4-1 home defeat to Caen.

Strasbourg coach Jean-Marc Furnla said: "We did not play well in the spring and this is a huge disappointment because we had always hoped of getting back on track.

"The players on show tonight (Saturday) wanted to fight for the team but they were not up to it."

After what was star striker Pauleta's final home game for PSG, the Parisians' top flight fate, and that of Lens and Toulouse, will be decided in next week's finale when the third and final relegation spot will be known. -- AFP