Montpellier win to retain European hopes

Paris: Montpellier claimed a last-gasp 1-0 win at Lens on Sunday afternoon to keep alive their chances of snatching European qualification from Ligue 1.

Anthony Mounier scored the winning goal, his eighth of the season, in stoppage time after latching onto a pass from Ellyes Skhiri.

Before that, Montpellier had been unable to break down already-relegated Lens, who were reduced to 10 men after Loick Landre`s 64th-minute sending-off.

Montpellier remain seventh in the table with two games left but are only three points adrift of Bordeaux in sixth, which will be good enough to qualify for next season`s Europa League as long as Paris Saint-Germain beat second-tier Auxerre in the French Cup final later this month.

Later on Sunday, European contenders Saint-Etienne host Nice before Marseille take on Monaco in a crucial game at the Stade Velodrome.

Marseille, who will start the game five points behind third-placed Monaco, have to win to retain any hope of qualifying for next season`s Champions League at the principality side`s expense.

PSG`s 6-0 hammering of Guingamp on Friday coupled with nearest rivals Lyon`s 3-0 capitulation at Caen on Saturday means the capital club are now on the brink of winning a third successive Ligue 1 title.

Paris are six points clear of OL with two games left so need just a point away to 2012 champions Montpellier next weekend to take the crown.