Montpellier crushed by Lille, miss top spot in Ligue 1

Montpellier wasted the chance to move top of Ligue 1 when they were thrashed 4-1 at Lille on Sunday. 

Surprise packages Montpellier, back in the top flight this season after a long spell in the second division, stayed second on 56 points from 30 games, level with Girondins Bordeaux who have a better goal difference and two games in hand.

Bordeaux were not in league action this weekend because they played the League Cup final on Saturday, losing 3-1 to Olympique Marseille at Stade de France.

Auxerre, in third position, will go top if they win at Monaco on Monday (1900 GMT).

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho collected a fine through ball from Belgium winger Eden Hazard to put Lille ahead on 17 minutes but the visitors levelled when forward Souleymane Camara fired into the top corner from 20 metres early in the second half.             

Midfielder Yohan Cabaye put Lille back in front from a penalty after he was fouled on 54 minutes and forward Pierre-Alain Frau made it 3-1 from a perfect Hazard pass. 

Substitute forward Larsen Toure wrapped it up with an angled shot from inside the box 10 minutes from time.

Northerners Lille, whose title chances were hit by a poor start to the season, climbed to fourth, two points off the pace, and have 56 goals, more than any other Ligue 1 team this season.