Hatem Ben Arfa produced two moments of magic as nine-man Nice romped to a 4-1 victory away at Saint-Etienne on Sunday, preventing their opponents from closing the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Vincent Koziello had given Nice an early lead at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, but Loic Perrin soon equalised for Saint-Etienne, converting the rebound after a Fabien Lemoine shot crashed back off the bar.

That was when Ben Arfa intervened, volleying past Stephane Ruffier and into the far corner of the net to put the visitors back in front in the 39th minute.

Even better was to come a minute prior to the interval as Ben Arfa, who started out at Saint-Etienne's bitter rivals Lyon, dribbled into the box past several challenges and dispatched a low shot across Ruffier.

The goals were confirmation that France international Ben Arfa is flourishing again in his homeland after a disappointing spell in England with Newcastle United and then Hull City followed by six months out of the game earlier this year.

"Sometimes, Hatem can be very good but he never lets it go to his head," said Nice coach Claude Puel.

"He stays focussed just like his teammates. We all know his quality and that he can settle situations at any time. Tonight was easily his best game for us."

Jean-Michael Seri put Nice further ahead following a counter-attack led by Valere Germain, before Nampalys Mendy and Maxime Le Marchand were both sent off in the final half-hour.

The latter walked after conceding a penalty that was missed by Jean-Christophe Bahebeck as Nice claimed a third win in just over a week following a 3-1 victory at Bastia and a 6-1 thumping of Bordeaux.

Nice are up to seventh while Saint-Etienne remain second, four points behind leaders and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, who won 4-1 at Nantes on Saturday.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Marseille's poor start to the season continued with a 2-1 defeat at home to promoted Angers.

Goals from Thomas Mangani, a penalty, and Romain Thomas had Marseille in deep trouble at the Stade Velodrome before Michy Batshuayi reduced the deficit 11 minutes from time, again from the spot.

The result left Michel's struggling side down in the bottom half of the table, just four points above the relegation zone.

"We played very badly in the first half, that's not the way to start a match," moaned Michel.

"We weren't in the match and were below par for many minutes. We lacked creativity and penetration. I can't explain it but we'll have to find a solution."

Angers continued their impressive return to the top flight after an absence of 21 years as they moved into fifth, level on points with third-placed Rennes.

"Fifteen points after eight matches is crazy," said Angers coach Stephane Moulin.

"We're not crazy, we know Marseille are better than us, individually and collectively, but in football little teams can make life difficult for the big ones."

It was a disastrous outcome for Marseille to a peculiar match in which the Velodrome was empty at both ends due to a punishment related to last weekend's incidents during the 1-1 draw with Lyon, in which several Marseille fans threw missiles at police and onto the pitch.

Later on, a lucky goal from Nicolas Benezet a minute from time denied Monaco victory as Guingamp snatched a 3-3 draw in Brittany.

Having won 3-2 at Montpellier on Thursday, Monaco looked on course for a second successive away victory but despite taking the lead three times in the match, through Bernardo Silva, Andrea Raggi and Nabil Dirar, the hosts pegged them back each time thanks to Sloan Privat and a Benezet brace, the last of which appeared to be a cross that sliced into the net at the near post.

Montpellier, the 2012 champions, got their first win of the season in a 2-1 victory over mid-table Lorient.

Jonas Martin hit the winner in the 57th minute after Lorient's Raffidine Abdullah -- who was later sent off -- had cancelled out Ramy Bensebaini's opener, although Montpellier remain in the bottom three.