Paris: A howler from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda helped Lyon beat fellow European rivals Marseille 2-0 on Sunday and move clear of their opponents in third place in Ligue 1.

Visiting keeper Mandanda gifted Nabil Fekir an early opener, before Mariano Diaz headed in the second shortly after half-time.

The victory gave Lyon a three-point lead over fourth-placed Marseille and drew them level on points with second-placed Monaco, nine points adrift of runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Marseille showed plenty of fight but were made to pay for missed chances as a 12-match unbeaten run in the league was brought to an end.

“I take full responsibility for this defeat. I should not be conceding that type of goal,” Mandanda said.

“The difference was the two goalkeepers. Today we saw (Lyon keeper) Anthony Lopes be decisive and Steve Mandanda who was not good, which meant that Marseille lost this game.” Lyon made a dream start as Fekir put them ahead in only the sixth minute with his 12th league goal of the season.

But the forward was indebted to France international Mandanda, who somehow contrived to drop a tame free-kick into the corner of his net.

Marseille almost levelled soon afterwards though, but Lopes pulled off a wonderful reflex save to keep out Adil Rami’s header after the centre-back was left unmarked at a Dimitri Payet corner.

Agence France-Presse