Champions Marseille have 25 points and lead the way on goal difference from Lille who drew 1-1 at Girondins Bordeaux and now stand a point ahead of Montpellier.
Stade Rennes could have taken over first place but instead slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Lorient whose success was fashioned by goals from Alaixys Romao and Jeremy Morel.
It was one-way traffic on Saturday for Marseille who, having secured a place in the Champions League last 16 in midweek, wasted little time opening the scoring against Montpellier with playmaker Lucho Gonzalez's volley in the 20th minute.
Marseille's diminutive France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena also found the net in the second half before Loic Remy completed the convincing victory in stoppage time.
"After our very good performance on Tuesday, it was important to do it again here," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told French TV channel Foot Plus.
"It is very serious," Deschamps said. "I think he damaged a ligament and that his season is over."
"There was room to do better," said Bordeaux defender Michael Ciani. "We should have scored in the first half.
"We were not aggressive enough... But we are still only two points adrift of the top." Bordeaux are sixth with 23 points.
