Monaco climbed to second in the Ligue 1 table courtesy of a 2-0 win at Lorient this afternoon.

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The hosts could have been in the lead just five minutes into the contest when Walid Mesloub found Yann Jouffre in the area but his effort went over the bar.

Lorient dominated chances as the half progressed and Benjamin Jeannot was next to come close to breaking the deadlock after shooting from the right of the box, but Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic was alert to his effort.

Leonardo Jardim's men were slow to get into the match but eventually found the opener in the 53rd minute with their first meaningful attempt.

Goal-line technology had to be called upon after Thomas Lemar's close-range effort bounced from the ground onto the upright, although Guido Carrillo would have made certain with his follow-up in any case.

The visitors were then in the ascendancy and found their second just four minutes later from a set play. Joao Moutinho made no mistake from 20 yards out as his free kick looped perfectly over the wall and past Lorient keeper Benjamin Lacomte.

Lorient failed to offer anything in the way of response, and Monaco were unfortunate not to make it three just before the hour mark when Lemar's effort from the left was thwarted by Lacomte's fine save.

Monaco are now unbeaten in eight league matches but still lie 21 points adrift of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, while Lorient - now winless at home in more than two months - miss out on the chance to close in on the top four and lie 11th in the table.