The Lyon coach Claude Puel admitted his side "got what we deserved" after they were beaten 3-0 by Rennes on Sunday. The seven times French champions fell to their first defeat in Ligue 1 this season thanks to a hat-trick from Mickael Pagis. While the veteran forward was in irresistible form, Lyon looked desperately off the pace after their Champions League exertions in midweek and Rennes could have been even more convincing winners.
"Pagis caused us plenty of misery, he's an excellent player but we gave him too much space," Puel said. Lyon's players refused to accept the side were suffering the consequences of their draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday. "Rennes played on Thursday in the Uefa Cup, so physically we should have been better than them," the forward Frederic Piquionne said. Despite the defeat, Les Gones still have a two-point cushion over their nearest rivals Toulouse. St Etienne's recent resurgence continued as they scored in either halves to beat Monaco 2-0.
In the other game, Nancy had to content themselves with a 1-1 draw at home to Paris St Germain. * PA Sport
