Champions Olympique Lyon hit Olympique Marseille's chances of playing in Europe next season with a 1-0 away victory in Ligue 1 on Saturday courtesy of a superb Juninho goal.
The Brazil midfielder twisted his way past three defenders to score from just inside the box 55 minutes into the game.
Marseille, who need a top-four finish to qualify directly for European competition, slipped one spot to fifth in the standings with one round of matches left.
Lyon, who secured their fourth consecutive title with three games remaining, have 78 points and will beat the record 79 points set by Nantes in 1995 and matched by Monaco two years later if they beat Nice in their final match next Saturday.
"We're not on holiday yet," said Lyon coach Paul Le Guen, who is leaving the club at the end of the season.
"We're a bit more relaxed but we're still giving it our best, which is the best thing to do in our position," he added.
Lille held on to second place despite a 2-0 home defeat by strugglers AC Ajaccio.
The northerners lie two points ahead of third-placed Monaco, who needed a goal in added time by France defender Sebastien Squillaci to snatch a 1-1 draw at Girondins Bordeaux.
Stade Rennes, the surprise team of the season, moved up to fourth with a 4-0 demolition of Racing Strasbourg that kept alive their chances of playing in the UEFA Cup.
The top two teams in Ligue 1 go straight into the Champions League with the third-placed side entering the qualifying round of the showcase competition. The fourth-placed team will qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Marseille, eight-times French champions, have won just one of their last 11 games and suffered their third successive home defeat on Saturday.
"It is not today's defeat that hurts the most but what has been happening for the last two months," said Marseille defender and captain Frederic Dehu.
Marseille must win at Bordeaux in their final game to have a chance of making the UEFA Cup but their fate is out of their hands with Rennes a point ahead of them.
"Marseille have not won in Bordeaux in 27 years so it will be tough," said Dehu.
The Marseille players were jeered by their Stade Velodrome crowd throughout the game. "I can understand the fans," said Dehu. "They come to see us win and we keep losing."
