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Montpellier forward Victor Hugo Montano celebrates after scoring a goal during the French match L1 Montpellier-Grenoble, at the Mosson Stadium in Montpellier.

French top-flight surprise package Montpellier moved level on points with leaders Bordeaux by beating Grenoble 1-0 on Saturday, while title-chasing Marseille edged south coast rivals Monaco 2-1.

Montpellier, promoted from Ligue 2 last season, took the lead in the 28th minute when striker Victor Montano provided an emphatic finish to a sweeping move and his goal was enough to secure all the points.

Defending champions Bordeaux, who were eliminated from the French Cup by Monaco in mid-week, can restore their three-point advantage on Sunday if they win at home to fifth-bottom Saint-Etienne.

Marseille dominated the first half of the Mediterranean derby, with Argentine playmaker Lucho Gonzalez at the heart of their aggressive start and Mathieu Valbuena twice denied by Monaco goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.

The visitors broke the deadlock in controversial circumstances in the 37th minute, when Mamadou Niang converted a typically cool penalty that he himself had won with a dramatic tumble under minimal pressure from Cedric Mongongu.

Monaco levelled the score three minutes later when striker Moussa Maazou's volley took a deflection off Stephane Mbia and crept inside Steve Mandanda's near post.

Niang and Souleymane Diawara both threatened to put OM ahead before Monaco midfielder Nicolas Nkoulou finally obliged by heading Valbuena's inswinging cross past his own goalkeeper in the 89th minute.

Monaco captain Alejandro Alonso compounded his side's misery in injury time when he was yellow carded for a sly kick on Taye Taiwo and then sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee.

Victory takes Didier Deschamps's team above Lyon into fourth place, six points shy of Bordeaux, but Lyon can reclaim the position if they beat Lens in Saturday's late game.

Third-placed Lille maintained the four-point gap to Montpellier by dispatching second-bottom Boulogne 3-1 at the Stadium Municipal.

All the goals came in the first half, with a Ludovic Obraniak brace sandwiching strikes by team-mate Adil Rami and Boulogne defender Olubayo Adefemi.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain's poor form continued as they drew 0-0 at Nancy, while Valenciennes beat Nice 2-1 thanks to an injury-time goal by Filip Sebo and 10-man Sochaux were held to a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Le Mans.

In Sunday's other matches, seventh plays eighth as Auxerre host Rennes, while Toulouse visit Lorient.