Nice ease to Valenciennes win

Nice have gone level on points with fourth-place Bordeaux in Ligue 1 with a 5-0 victory over Valenciennes at home.

The win at Stade Municipal du Ray saw Claude Puel's side increase their tally to 32 points from 20 matches and enhance their chances of playing in Europe next season.

The hosts broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time, as Dario Cvitanich fired in from outside the Valenciennes penalty area.

Renato Civelli made it 2-0 to Nice just before the hour mark when he stroked home from close range after finding himself with a loose ball following a free kick.

Five minutes later Valentin Eysseric ascertained the victory when he latched on to Didier Digard's pass and shot home from outside the visitors' box.

Cvitanich scored his second goal of the evening in the 79th minute, slotting home Timothee Kolodziejczak's cross past Nicolas Penneteau with ease.

Digard completed the scoring for Nice three minutes from the final whistle when he turned in Cvitanich's pass from the right side of the Valenciennes box.