UPDATE 3-Soccer-Toulouse defeat hands Lyon record sixth title

(adds quotes, detail)

By Jean-Paul Couret

PARIS, April 21 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon have become the first team from one of the big five European leagues to win six national championships in a row.

Lyon, who have 70 points with six games to play and visit AJ Auxerre on Sunday, took an unassailable lead of 17 points when Toulouse lost 3-2 at Stade Rennes on Saturday.

"Maybe we didn't reach all our objectives this season but this sixth title is historic," coach Gerard Houllier told RTL radio after watching the Toulouse match on television with his players at their Auxerre hotel.

"It's fantastic. I would like to congratulate Gerard, his staff and the players," said Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas.

The scenario was a repeat of last season's finale when Lyon ordered their first bottles of champagne in a Paris hotel after second-placed Girondins Bordeaux lost at Lille.

Toulouse, on 52 points with five games remaining, dropped from second to third spot after Racing Lens took their tally to 53 points with five matches to go following a 2-0 victory over Le Mans.

"We thought we had a chance when we opened the scoring but Rennes deserved their win," said Toulouse defender Dominique Arribage.