Leaders humbled by Nice guys

A Victor Agali-inspired Nice staged the comeback of the season to beat Monaco 4-3 in a result that will likely cost the Ligue 1 pacesetters top spot on Sunday.

With the visitors trailing 3-0 after an hour, Nigerian Agali turned the game on its head with a hat-trick in seven minutes before Tahiti-born Marama Vahirua scored the winner for Les Aiglons.

Both teams finished with 10 men as Monaco’s Julien Rodriguez and Sammy Traore of Nice were both dismissed.

With Lille and Lyon both a point behind and playing their games in hand tomorrow, it is probable that one of those clubs will now displace Monaco at the summit by the end of the weekend.

Paris St Germain coach Vahid Halilhodzic saw his side pick up their second Ligue 1 win in succession after a dismal start to the campaign, prevailing 2-1 in Corsica away to Bastia.

If Monaco boss Didier Deschamps is down in the dumps he should spare a thought for Strasbourg’s Antoine Kombouare, whose side is still winless after nine matches and bottom of Ligue 1.

Goals from Mamadou Bagayoko and Jeremy Toulalan saw Nantes inflict the 2-0 defeat at Strasbourg’s Stade Meinau that could be the final straw for the Alsatian club’s board.

Before Toulalan’s clincher, Strasbourg’s Pascal Camadini and Nantes’ Gilles Yapi Yapo were both red carded.

Caen and Bordeaux shared a 1-1 draw as did Lens and Ajaccio.

Marseille cruised to their first away win of the season in the Provence derby to leave Istres struggling – like Strasbourg they are also winless after nine matches after this 2-0 defeat.