French league leader's Lyon lost to Bordeaux 2-1 on Wednesday, its first home defeat of the season and a third straight match without a win.
Midfielder Pablo Francia and former France midfielder Johan Micoud sealed Bordeaux's win inside the opening 30 minutes.
Coach Gerard Houllier brought on substitute Milan Baros in the 58th minute for his debut since joining on Monday from Aston Villa, and Brazil's Fred pulled a goal back minutes later.
Houllier's team is in a rare slump in front of goal and have scored only once in their last three games.
The defeat didn't change the top of the table, as the five-time defending champions maintained a 14-point lead.
Lens dropped to third following a 1-0 loss at Lorient, and Lille's 1-0 home win over struggling Paris Saint-Germain moved them into fourth.
Bordeaux took the lead in the third minute when Jean-Claude Darcheville was fouled by Lyon goalkeeper Remi Vercoutre.
Francia converted the spot kick for his first goal of the season, and then the Argentine midfielder crossed from the left for Micoud to head home in the 27th.
Fred grabbed his sixth goal of the season in the 64th when he converted Juninho's free kick. Baros then twice created chances for Juninho but the Brazilian's goal-touch deserted him, and Micoud missed a late chance for a second goal.
In other matches, it was: Monaco 0, Rennes 2; Nice 0, Toulouse 1; Sochaux 1, Sedan 1; Troyes 1, Nantes 0; and Valenciennes 1, Le Mans 1.
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