Marseille pays tribute to Pelé before 6-1 win, Lens held 0-0

Marseille paid tribute to Brazilian soccer great Pelé before routing Toulouse 6-1 to rise to third place Thursday, while Lens failed to keep pace with league leer Paris Saint-Germain after drawing 0-0 at Nice.

draw left second-place Lens seven points behind PSG, which won on Wednesday to remain unbeaten.

Midfielder Salis Abdul Samed went close for Lens, which hosts PSG on Sunday, after a brilliant turn and mazy run, only to be foiled by veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel in 31st minute.

Marseille's home win moved it four points behind Lens but two ahe of Rennes in third, which earns a place in Champions League qualifying rounds. Rennes lost 3-1 at Reims.

Marseille fans observed a moment’s applause Pelé, who died on Thursday . He was 82. three-time World Cup winner’s face was shown on a giant screen at Ste Velodrome.

Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet h tears in his eyes as he joined in applause, before Marseille’s crowd chanted “Pelé, Pelé, Pelé,” several times.

It was Marseille's best attacking performance under coach Igor Tudor. He seems to have figured out how best to use former France playmaker Payet, whose vision and passing illuminated game.

Central defender Samuel Gigot broke down right to set up midfielder Valentin Rongier from close range in 13th minute, and Marseille doubled its le in 41st when Toulouse defender Rasmus Nicolaisen lobbed his own goalkeeper with a botched heer.

Left back Se Kolasinac me it 3-0 in 52nd when he controlled ball with an improvised backheel and n turned past a defender to shoot home.

Ten minutes later, Payet superbly curled in fourth goal from just inside area before Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen reduced deficit soon after with a penalty.

Turkey winger Cengiz Ünder scored from spot in 80th for Marseille's fifth before left back Nu Tavarez grabbed a fine sixth moments later, chesting down a cross from right back Jonathan Clauss and firing ball in under crossbar.

Earlier, England under-21 striker Folarin Balogun put Reims ahe and fellow forward Alexis Flips me it 2-0 after 22 minutes.

Defender Arthur ate pulled a goal back for Rennes just before break, but Balogun continued his fine form with his 10th goal of season in 84th.

Also, Montpellier won 2-0 at Lorient to move closer to mid-table.

Midfielder Téji Savanier's early free kick put visitors ahe and striker Elye Wahi me it 2-0 midway through first half.

PSG scraped a 2-1 home win against struggling Strasbourg on Wednesday, thanks to Kylian Mbappé's penalty deep into stopp time.