PARIS (AFP) - Late goals from Sidney Govou and Juninho helped notch up a 4-2 victory for French league leaders Lyon at home to Paris Saint Germain on Sunday night to propel them nine points clear at the top of the table.

Two goals from Brazilian Fred in the first half had set up Alain Perrin's men for what looked like a cruise to victory though PSG had other ideas.

Goals from Zoumana Camara and Jerome Rothen had PSG level at 2-2 shortly after the break but it was left to the finishing skills of Govou midway through the second period and then Juninho 20 minutes from time to reassert Lyon's authority.

The 3-1 defeat of second-placed Bordeaux at Valenciennes on Saturday meant Lyon, with 64 points, increased their lead to nine points after 30 matches with just eight fixtures left.

For PSG it meant their relegation worries are far from over as they lay third from bottom, not helped by Sochaux's 1-0 win at Marseille on Saturday.

Lyon coach Alain Perrin said afterwards that the title race was not over. "It's not over yet," said Perrin. "The champion will need 73 to 75 points probably and Bordeaux could manage that during their eight remaining matches. And we have two tricky away trips in our next fixtures against Valenciennes and Marseille."

PSG coach Paul Le Guen simply said Lyon were a cut above. "They are a better side," said Le Guen. "The score reflected what happened on the pitch though at 2-2 we had reason to doubt Lyon would go on to take all three points."

And on their relegation worries, he added: "We have eight matches to go and are in a precarious situation but the players are making great efforts. Apart from a few minor errors there was nothing to blame the players for in tonight's match and I'm disappointed with the result."

In Sunday's earlier fixture, Jerome Leroy, Mickael Pagis and Olivier Thomert scored for mid-table Rennes in a 3-1 win over lowly Lens.

Fred opened the scoring on just eight minutes. Juninho fed Fabio Grosso who saw his shot blocked but he regained possession before crossing for Fred who headed the ball home.

After 36 minutes Fred doubled Lyon's score after controlling the ball on his chest before firing home.

Camara scored seconds before the break in a carbon copy of Arsenal's goal by Bacary Sagna in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in an English Premiership match earlier in the day.

Camara got away from his marker to glance home a header at the near post from a corner to give PSG hope of salvaging something from the fixture.

Paris Saint Germain returned from the break with renewed conviction that they could get back in the match.

When Jerome Rothen's 52nd minute penalty kick found the net Paul Le Guen's men must really have believed they could get back in the match but that was not to reckon with the abilities of two of Lyon's key players.

A superb half-volley from Govou in the 64th minute then a 71st minute fourth goal from Juninho, after a good team effort, put the seal on Lyon's victory which has boosted their chances of a seventh-straight league title.

After the match however it was revealed Lyon striker Karim Benzema, who left the pitch in the first half, had twisted his left knee and, though he would meet up with the rest of the France team at their training base at Clairefontaine to the south of Paris early Monday, the signs were that he would miss Wednesday's Stade de France friendly against England.