Six-times French champions Lyon advanced to the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a 3-1 win at fellow Ligue 1 club Caen on Wednesday.

Ivory Coast forward Kader Keita put the league leaders in front with an angled shot on 17 minutes.

Caen forward Elliot Grandin levelled for the home side on the half-hour but Lyon were soon back on top and created a string of chances before midfielder Mathieu Bodmer restored their lead with a header from a free kick on 76 minutes.

Substitute forward Karim Benzema beat the offside trap to wrap the tie up with three minutes left.

Lyon will now face the winners of Thursday's fourth-round tie between second division Niort and Ligue 1 side Le Mans.

Paris St Germain recorded their first home win of the season when they beat second division Montpellier 2-0 courtesy of two Pauleta goals earlier on Wednesday.

The former Portugal striker opened the scoring with a volley from inside the box on seven minutes.

France goalkeeper Mickael Landreau kept the capital club in front when he saved a penalty from Montpellier midfielder Gregory Lacombe in the 77th minute.

Montpellier had just had defender Alexis N'Gambi sent off in added time for a dangerous tackle on France midfielder Jerome Rothen when Pauleta doubled PSG's lead with a header.

PSG, a lowly 15th in Ligue 1, will play northerners Valenciennes in the quarter-finals. Valenciennes advanced with a 2-0 win at Rennes.

Ligue 1 strugglers Lens received a welcome morale boost from a 2-1 win at Monaco, also on Wednesday.

Second from bottom of the league, Lens showed more initiative to book a place in the last eight of the competition, whose winners qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Togo striker Abdoulrazak Boukari put the visitors ahead with a fine goal after 16 minutes.

Monaco equalised in the 66th courtesy of a deflected shot from France striker Frederic Piquionne but Lens kept fighting and were rewarded when midfielder Eric Carriere hit the winner from the edge of the box seven minutes from time.

For a place in the semi-finals, Lens will face Ligue 1 rivals Nancy, who beat second division Amiens 1-0 on Tuesday.

Reuters