Nice, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Marseille failed to close the gap on the Ligue 1 leaders on Friday as the club fell to a 1-0 defeat at Nice courtesy of a 40th-minute goal from Dario Cvitanich.
Marseille has now lost back-to-back games and sits four points back of leaders PSG and Monaco, who both will attempt to extend their lead this weekend.
Cvitanich netted the lone goal late in the first half when he beat the offside trap and took a pass from Mahamane Traore before rounding goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and rolling the ball into the net.
Marseille came within inches of leveling the match in the opening minute of the second half as Gianelli Imbula's shot came back off the post after he was set up by Mathieu Valbuena, denying the visitors a point.
The other match on Friday saw Toulouse grab a late 2-1 win at Reims as Martin Braithwaite converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute for Toulouse after Reims had Antoine Devaux sent off a few minutes earlier.
On Saturday PSG will try to remain at the top of the league with three points at home against mid-table Bastia.
The capital club has drawn two of its four matches at home this season and will be without suspended duo Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta, while Thiago Silva will miss out through a hamstring injury.
Monaco is tied atop Ligue 1 with PSG entering the weekend and the club takes the field on Sunday at Sochaux, which has claimed just one win in nine games this season.
Lille moved into the top four with a run of 10 points from its last four games and the club travels to Montpellier, Nantes brings a three-match winning streak into its game at Ajaccio, Guingamp and Evian square off at Parc des Sports and Rennes hosts last-place Valenciennes.
In addition to Monaco's clash with Sochaux on Sunday, Lyon attempts to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat to Montpellier when the club hosts Bordeaux, while Lorient invades St Etienne.
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