PARIS (AFP) - Karim Benzema hailed Lyon's great start to the season following their 2-1 win over Nancy on Saturday to shoot them six points ahead in the French league while Paris Saint Germain and Marseille stumbled.

France international Benzema orchestrating a strong, first-half surge, scoring the opener and involved in the second goal, though he had to go off in the 59th minute with an ankle injury that did not prove serious.

Benzema heralded the wonderful start to the season of the seven-time reigning French league champions. "We are happy to have won the game and we have had a great start to the season. We aren't conceding many goals and we are scoring a lot," Benzema said.

"We are also still unbeaten and we must hope that that continues for as long as possible."

Second-placed Marseille could only draw 1-1 at the season's surprise-package Le Mans while PSG fell 1-0 at home to promoted Grenoble in the late match.

Benzema, the country's leading goalscorer, oozed confidence and composure to drive a low effort under Gennaro Bracigliano in the 30th minute, as the 20-year-old fulfills his tag of the new Zidane.

Lyon, without star Brazilian Juninho and suspended Sidney Govou, made it two six minutes later when Fred latched onto a snappy pass to double the lead.

The Brazilian Fred, linked with a move to the English Premier league, will have done his contract talks no harm with the athletic way he bagged his second of the season.

The advantage was not to last, however, as Nancy hit one back from the kick-off, when Pascal Berenguer punished lazy Lyon defending with a well-taken shot.

Lyon coach Claude Puel said after the match that Benzema's ankle injury was not serious.

"He is suffering from a knock on his right ankle and there has not been a twist," Puel said. "We will take stock on Sunday but I don't think there is a worry about his participation against Bayern in the Champions League on Tuesday."

It was Marseille who got off to the perfect start when Hatem Ben Arfa gave them the lead with a strong, seventh-minute strike.

The rising France international held off brusque challenges and finished off a mazy penalty box run to slot the opener past Yohann Pele.

But Le Mans, fifth in the championship, levelled after 11 minutes when new Norwegian signing Thorstein Helstad pounced on a defensive error.

PSG, a victim of their own attacking sterility and surprised by a long-range strike from Nassim Akrour for the goal, suffered their first defeat of the season at home to Grenoble.

A week after losing 1-0 to St Etienne, PSG suffered another league setback and are having trouble continuing their previous, promising start to the season.

As if the result was not enough bad news, PSG midfielder Ludovic Giuly had to leave the field in the 64th minute, clutching his left hamstring, having asked coach Paul Le Guen to substitute him.

It was a good night for national coach Raymond Domenech, as another of his young hopefuls, Jimmy Briand, fired Rennes to a 1-0 home win against Nice.

Mevlud Erding scored a late - and lifeline-giving - equaliser for bottom team Sochaux against Lorient, while Caen cruised 3-0 to second-bottom Nantes. Auxerre had a well-deserved 3-0 win over strugglers Le Havre.