On the eve of the top-of-the-table clash between Paris Saint Germain and Lyon, title rivals Toulouse and Montpellier both failed in their bids to take provisional Ligue 1 top spot on Saturday.
Toulouse fell 3-0 to mid-table Sochaux, as 10-man Montpellier fought back from two goals down before holding hosts Bordeaux, who also had a player sent off, 2-2.
Montpellier move third ahead of Toulouse on goal difference with both sides on 17 points from nine games. PSG and Lyon, who also have 17 points, meet at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
"It's a good wakeup call for everyone," said Toulouse coach Alain Casanova after his side ended a four-match winning streak.
A double from Mali international Modibo Maiga and a late Cedric Bakambu goal ensured Sochaux ended a run of consecutive defeats and 10 goals conceded to Rennes and Auxerre.
"I'm more disappointed by the performace than the result. We got what we deserved. We didn't live up to our position in the standings," said Casanova.
"Sochaux were in a negative phase, we should have worried them more. We're not ready yet and mentally we have to improve."
The southwestern outfit were trailing after just nine minutes when Maiga opened for Sochaux after picking up a cross from midfielder Loic Poujol.
And the Mali forward formed a deadly tandem with France international playmaker Marvin Martin who set up two decisive passes in the frantic final minutes of play.
A Martin cross resulted in a Maiga header two minutes from time before Bakambu sealed victory two minutes later.
Montpellier, still reeling from last week's 3-0 defeat to PSG, failed to take advantage of the sending off of Bordeaux defender Marc Planus for a foul on Nigerian defender John Utaka after 24 minutes.
And Bordeaux looked set for just their second win of the season after goals from Malian Cheick Diabate (18 min) and Mickael Ciani (49), and the sending off of Montpellier's Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for a second yellow card after 80 minutes.
But Younes Belhanda converted a penalty two minutes from time with Brazilian Hilton getting a last-gasp equaliser to ensure a point for the southerners.
Lorient move up to fifth following a 2-0 win at home against Valenciennes thanks to goals from Arsenal's on-loan Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell (22 min) and midfielder Yann Jouffre (69).
Caen ended a run of two successive defeats being held 1-1 by visiting Nice but stay seventh, as Auxerre remain ninth after a 1-1 draw against Saint-Etienne.
Tailenders Nancy are still looking for their first win after being held 1-1 at home by newcomers Evian with Dijon and Ajaccio also playing out a 1-1 draw.
Marseille are also in action Sunday, at home to a Brest side who have yet to record a league win as champions Lille face a potentially awkward home meeting against Rennes.
Source: AFP
