Nice's hopes of finishing second in Ligue 1 to clinch a place in the Champions League group stage were scuppered on Sunday when they lost 2-1 at Olympique de Marseille. The defeat left them in third place on 77 points, six points behind Paris St Germain, who have a far superior goal difference with two games remaining. Marseille, who are fifth on 58 points, scored through Bafetimbi Gomis and Patrice Evra either side of a goal from Nice's Italian striker Mario Balotelli. Leaders Monaco, who have three games left, have 86 points after they beat Nancy 3-0 away on Saturday. PSG crushed Bastia 5-0 at Parc des Princes on Saturday but Monaco have a much better goal difference and will be virtually certain of being crowned champions if they beat Lille at Louis II next weekend. Nice were already guaranteed a top-three finish, which brings a place in the Champions League qualifying round. Marseilles's Gomis opened the scoring at the Velodrome with a near-post header from Dimitri Payet's corner in the 21st minute. Balotelli equalized five minutes into the second half with a close-range effort only for Evra to restore OM's lead in the 66th with a diving header at the far post. Earlier, fourth-placed Olympique Lyonnais came from a goal down to beat mid-table Nantes 3-2. — Reuters
