PARIS (AFP) - A last-gasp goal from Troyes´ playmaker Benjamin Nivet added to the current mini-crisis of French champions Lyon, handing the five-time league winners their third loss of the new year.

Nivet struck three minutes into injury time amid confusion following a late corner to hand his side just their fifth win of the season and a potentially key victory as they bid to avoid the drop.

Lyon still have a comfortable 11-point margin at the top of the table ahead of Lens but are winless in their past five matches from which they have taken just two points.

When the French league took a three-week winter break, Lyon looked unstoppable, 15 points clear and having only failed to win three times in 19 league matches.

But as the champions stumble, hosts Troyes seem to have got a new lease of life, with just one loss in their last nine games, as they move to fifth from bottom.

Their success Sunday was mostly thanks to goalkeeper Ronan Le Crom who kept out a succession of shots from Lyon, starting with an effort from Fred, making his comeback from injury, after 10 minutes, followed by decisive saves against Patrick Muller (32) and a Juninho free kick (35).

Le Crom proved solid again after the break faced with an onslaught from Juninho (56), Fred (67) and Florent Malouda (71, 90), before Nivet made the breakthrough in the last action of the game.

On Saturday, goals from Eric Carriere, Seydou Keita and Issam Jemaa lifted Lens back into second place with a 3-1 win at Valenciennes as Lille were held to a goalless draw at home by Nantes.

A Carriere header after 28 minutes put Lens ahead, with Keita strengthening their grip on the game with a volley just before the half-time whistle.

Steve Savidan pulled a goal back for Valenciennes with a 61st-minute penalty before Jemaa completed the scoreline four minutes into injury time.

Lens leapfrog Lille who drop to third one point behind.

Misfiring Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie let a string of chances slip by as Lille stumbled for the second time in a week at home to lowly Nantes, after being eliminated from the French Cup by the Canaries midweek.

Nantes coach Georges Eo was jubilant, despite the fact that his team remain third from bottom in the relegation zone.

"We were ready to defend against a side that were out for revenge. I´m particularly satisfied with this result," said Eo.

In a battle to avoid the drop, tailenders Sedan, achieved just their third win of the season with a 2-1 success at Saint-Etienne as Nancy achieved their first win of the year, beating Toulouse 2-1.

Saint-Etienne drop to sixth to swap places with Sochaux, who were held 0-0 by visiting Rennes.

Elsewhere Monaco won 2-1 at home against Auxerre with Lorient beating Le Mans by the same scoreline.

Later Sunday, Marseille host Paul Le Guen´s Paris St Germain, still looking for their first league win under the former Lyon and Rangers boss.