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Lyon beat 10-man Reims to close in on top spot, Lille held

PARIS (Reuters) - Karl Toko Ekambi scored one and set up two more as Olympique Lyonnais beat 10-man Stade de Reims 3-0 at home to claim their fifth win in six Ligue 1 games and continue their charge towards top spot on Sunday.

Toko Ekambi, Bruno Guimaraes and Moussa Dembele found the back of the net to lift OL, who are not playing in Europe this season, up to third on 23 points from 12 games.

They trail leaders Paris St Germain, who were held to a 2-2 home draw by Girondins de Bordeaux on Saturday, by two points and are behind second-placed Lille on goal difference.

Lille missed out on an opportunity to move level on points with PSG when they were held to a 1-1 draw at St Etienne later on Sunday.

Monaco are fourth, also on 23 points, after goals by Sofiane Diop, Gelson Martins and Kevin Volland earned them a 3-0 home victory against Nimes for their fourth straight win.

Wahbi Khazri put St Etienne ahead in the 33rd minute, converting a penalty after being fouled in the area by Domagoj Bradaric.

Nanitamo Ikone equalised in the 65th with a crossed shot after Burak Yilmaz had chested down Bradaric's cross into his path but Les Verts held on to end a miserable seven-game losing streak.

They are now 15th on 11 points, two ahead of Reims who are 17th.

Lyon, who are unbeaten since their opening defeat at Montpellier this season, opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Toko Ekambi volleyed home from Memphis Depay's cross.

Reims had Moreto Cassama sent off with a straight red in the 31st for tripping up Depay, who was rushing unopposed towards goal.

Guimaraes doubled the home side's advantage three minutes into the second half with a powerful shot from just inside the box after collecting Toko Ekambi's pass.

The Cameroon forward set up Dembele for the third and the Frenchman chipped the ball home.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Clare Fallon)