Bordeaux went to the top of Ligue 1 on goal difference after a 2-0 win at Auxerre.
Le Girondins are now rubbing shoulders with the holders Lyon following goals from Brazilians Ferdando and Wendel.
Fernando opened the scoring in the 34th-minute when he sent his header back across the goal, and Wendel saw his 77th-minute free-kick saved by Sorin before netting three minutes later with a powerful shot.
This heady feeling for the new leaders may well change on Sunday when second-placed Lyon take on Monaco and Marseille face Grenoble.
Toulouse rise to fourth following Andre-Pierre Gignac’s goal in the 53rd-minute proving enough to beat Nantes.
St Etienne's bid to move out of the bottom three failed as they were beaten 1-0 by seventh-place Rennes in a match shown live on Setanta Sports 2.
Romain Danze headed home from Moussa Sow's cross following a sweeping move to earn the win in the 50th-minute.
St Etienne goalkeeper Jeremie Janot pulled out a spectacular save in the second half to repel a deflected shot, as he back pedaled to scoop the ball away from danger one-handed and put himself forward for save of the season.
Loic Remy scored twice for Nice as they beat Lorient to remain eighth in the table, while Le Mans jumped a few spots into 13th place following a 2-0 home win against Sochaux with Roland Lamah [35] and Modibo Maigo [87] doing the damage.
Reynald Lemaitre struck three minutes from time to earn Caen their first win since November as they beat Le Havre 2-1 to move out of the drop zone.
Le Havre find themselves 10 points adrift, at the foot of the table, after Steve Savidan fired Caen into the lead before Amadou Alassane leveled.
Nancy left it extremely late to ease their relegation fears with a 2-0 win over Valenciennes with both goals arriving in second half stoppage-time.
Damian Macaluso headed home from close range in the 91st-minute and Mody Traore’s handball led to a 93rd-minute which Youssouf Hadji converted.