Nice cruise past Le Havre to retake third spot in Ligue 1

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Gaetan Laborde gave Nice an early lead at Le Havre. AFP

Nice climbed back into the Ligue 1 top three with a 3-1 win at struggling Le Havre on Sunday after Lyon continued their European push by thrashing last-placed Montpellier.

Nice quickly seized control in Le Havre through a 16th-minute goal by Gaetan Laborde and an own goal from Etienne Youte Kinkoue two minutes later. Yassine Kechta replied for the hosts after 28 minutes. Nice fullback Melvin Bard received his second yellow card in the final minute, but substitute Sofiane Diop sealed the win for the visitors with a goal deep into added time.

Nice regained the final guaranteed Champions League slot on goal difference from Monaco, who had hammered Nantes 7-1 the night before. Lyon moved up to fifth as they took revenge for a home defeat earlier in the season with a 4-1 win at Montpellier. Georges Mikautadze gave the visitors a third-minute lead. Tanguy Coulibaly levelled before the break.

Lyon dominated the second half and struck through Ernest Nuamah, Corentin Tolisso, and Alexandre Lacazette, with his 15th career goal against Montpellier. Next up Lyon host league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. "We'll be playing against the best team in the French league. We're going to prepare our strategy well, knowing that we've made good progress,' said Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca.

Strasbourg rose to seventh as they won 2-0 at Lens. The hosts were reduced to 10 men when fullback Deiver Machado was sent off in the 72nd minute. The visitors exploited their advantage with an 81st-minute goal by Dilane Bakwa and a second, in the 96th minute, by Emmanuel Emegha. Farid El Melali scored the only goal as Angers won 1-0 at Reims. On Saturday, Fabian Ruiz scored the only goal as PSG edged out Toulouse 1-0 to stay 10 points clear at the top of the table from Marseille, who thrashed Saint-Etienne 5-1 earlier.