By Associated Press - Friday, April 25, 2014

NANTES, France (AP) - Marseille moved within two points of Lyon in the race for a European spot by drawing 1-1 with mid-table Nantes in the French league on Friday.

Marseille forward Florian Thauvin scored with a long-range strike in the 30th minute before Nantes striker Serge Gakpe fired in a low diagonal drive to level in the 65th.

Marseille stayed in sixth place while Nantes is 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

“We’ll keep fighting as long as we can still finish fourth or fifth,” Marseille coach Jose Anigo said. “We’re disappointed tonight because we had the possibility to take the three points.”

French teams finishing fourth and fifth qualify for the Europa League.

Paris Saint-Germain tops the standings with a 10-point lead over Monaco. The defending champion can clinch the title if Monaco loses on Saturday. Otherwise, PSG would just need to match its rival’s result on Sunday.

On Saturday, it’s: Ajaccio vs. Monaco; Evian vs. Saint-Etienne; Guingamp vs. Valenciennes; Montpellier vs. Toulouse; Nice vs. Reims; and Rennes vs. Lorient.

On Sunday, PSG visits Sochaux, Lyon hosts Bastia and Lille faces Bordeaux.

Andre-Pierre Gignac fed Thauvin with a backheel flick and the Marseille forward unleashed a powerful strike into the bottom corner for the opener.

Steve Mandanda protected the visitors’ lead by stopping a curling shot from American midfielder Alejandro Bedoya in the 40th. But Gakpe beat the Marseille goalkeeper with a swerving shot from 25 yards in the second half.

Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou saved a close-range effort from Marseille winger Andre Ayew in the 73rd to protect the point.

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