Soccer-Lyon stay four points clear after Bodmer double

PARIS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Two goals from midfielder Mathieu Bodmer helped Olympique Lyon crush strugglers Sochaux 4-1 on Saturday to stay four points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Bodmer opened the scoring with a header from a corner on two minutes and made it 2-1 from close range in the 76th, following up after a free kick from Brazilian midfielder Juninho bounced off the post.

Forward Fabrice Pancrate had exploited a blunder from the Lyon defence to put Sochaux level in the 52nd minute.

Sidney Govou and fellow France forward Karim Benzema sealed Lyon's win in added time with a goal each.

Lyon, chasing a seventh consecutive title, move on 49 points from 24 matches, four ahead of second-placed Girondins Bordeaux, who beat bottom club Metz 3-0 with two goals from Fernando Cavenaghi.

The Argentine forward opened the scoring from a penalty after 26 minutes and doubled the advantage in the 72nd. Midfielder Alou Diarra wrapped it up two minutes from time.

Third-placed Nancy, who had gone nine league matches without a win, beat Toulouse 1-0 with a late penalty from defender Sebastien Puygrenier to stay eight points off the pace. (Writing by Patrick Vignal, editing by Rex Gowar)