The six times champions now have 55 points from 27 matches with second-placed Girondins Bordeaux, who host Paris St Germain on Sunday ( 3.55am Singapore time), on 49 from 26.

The game broke the Ligue 1 attendance record with 77,850 fans showing up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the stadium where France won the 1998 World Cup.

The previous record was set at the Stade Velodrome when 57,609 watched Olympique Marseille play Lyon on Aug. 15, 2005.

Lyon went ahead after 32 minutes when Brazilian striker Fred netted with a low cross shot after being set up by right back Francois Clerc.

It was the third goal in two matches for Fred, who had played only nine league games this season before scoring a double against Metz last weekend.

Lille almost equalised when Pierre-Alain Frau's effort struck Gregory Coupet's bar on the hour.

With Lyon facing Manchester United in a last-16 Champions League tie at Old Trafford on Tuesday, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, coach Alain Perrin made changes after an hour.

He replaced France striker Karim Benzema with Hatem Ben Arfa and 14 minutes later Abdulkader Keita came on for winger Sidney Govou.

Goals by Lorick Cana and Djibril Cisse gave Marseille a 2-1 home win over AJ Auxerre.

The Provence side moved up one spot to fourth on 42 points, three adrift of Nancy, who were held to a goalless draw at Lorient.

Le Mans dropped one place to fifth when they went down to a 1-0 home defeat against Racing Strasbourg.

RC Lens, who beat Le Mans 5-4 after extra time in a League Cup semi-final earlier this week, were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Toulouse. -- REUTERS