Two Lisandro Lopez penalties ensured Lyon stepped up their challenge for a UEFA Champions League place with a 2-1 home win over bottom club Auxerre.

Lisandro scored the winner 19 minutes from the end after his 29th-minute spot-kick had been cancelled out by Alain Traore, who pounced on a woeful error from Samuel Umtiti.

Auxerre could not hold out for a much-needed point, though, as Lisandro grabbed the decisive goal to leave his side three points adrift of Lille in the Champions League play-off place.

Lyon had gone close to an opener when Jimmy Briand shot narrowly wide, before Lisandro won his side a penalty just before the half-hour.

The Argentinian had already caused the away defence plenty of problems and eventually it told, with Auxerre goalkeeper Olivier Sorin bringing him down in the area.

The referee had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick, which Lisandro dispatched past Sorin. Auxerre almost replied immediately, with Georges Mandjeck sending Kamel Chafni through one-on-one, but home goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rushed out to save with his left hand.

Auxerre did level before half-time following an awful mistake from Umtiti. The defender attempted to pass back to Lloris but Traore easily cut it out before poking the ball past the exposed France international.

Umtiti made up for the error on 62 minutes when he cleared off the line with Lloris beaten. Traore picked out Dennis Oliech, who rounded the goalkeeper only to see Umtiti get back to hack his goalbound shot away.

Lisandro wins second spot-kick
After Lille had lost 3-1 at Brest earlier in the day, Lyon's bid to cash in fully looked like being frustrated until Lisandro won a second penalty of the night.

The attacker was held back by Willy Boly and, while Sorin dived the right way, his spot-kick hit the back of the net to give Lyon a precious win.

There was still time for the visitors to threaten but Lloris saved Dariusz Dudka's powerful deflected effort with his legs to leave Auxerre four points from safety.