Diarra off as Lyon lose at Rennes
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Diarra picked up two yellow cards in quick succession
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PARIS, France -- French champions Lyon had midfielder Mahamadou Diarra sent off as they slumped to a dismal 3-1 defeat at Rennes, losing an unbeaten league run that stretched back for three months.
They fell six points behind leaders Monaco, who won 1-0 at Nantes.
Argentine midfielder Lucas Bernardi was Monaco's 66th minute marksman, scoring his first goal of the season.
Lyon went ahead in the 22nd minute when Florent Malouda scored after good work by Sidney Govou down the right.
Three minutes later Rennes equalized when Anthony Reveillere could only help in a shot from Dominique Arribage.
In the 39th minute Rennes went in front when Lyon's Nicolas Puydebois was beaten by a shot by Alexander Frei which came back off the post and ricocheted off the keeper's head back into the net.
Diarra was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession, the second for a bad tackle on Frei, and the Rennes striker made it 3-1 in the 74th minute from close range after the Lyon defense was split open.
Lowly Le Mans achieved their second win in three outings, beating Montpellier 4-0 to move off the bottom of the table.
