Paris, Jan 24 (IANS): Nice denied Marseille a chance to reclaim the top spot in the French Ligue 1 with a shock 2-1 victory.

Knowing that a victory at the Allianz Riviera Friday night would have seen them move above Lyon into top spot, Marcelo Bielsa's side failed to rise to the occasion and slipped to a sixth defeat of the season, reports Xinhua.

The hosts opened scoring two minutes into the second half when Romain Genevois forced in a cross from Valentin Esseyric.

Five minutes later, Kevin Gomis was sent off for a second bookable offence, but Nice hung on and enlarged the lead to 2-0 on 73 minutes when unmarked Niklas Hult left-footed in a close-range lob.

Marseille pulled a goal back four minutes later as Florian Thauvin took a pass from Giannelli Imbula on his chest before squeezing the ball into the net.

The victory was just the second for Nice in recent eight home games, leaving them 14 points behind leaders Lyon in ninth place, while Marseille stay second.