Montpellier HSC have beaten Guingamp 2-1 away from home in a crucial clash in Ligue 1 to move seven points clear of relegation danger.

Both sides looked to get the early goal, which led to Siaka Tiene striking just over for the hosts a couple of minutes before Mustapha Yatabare tested Geoffrey Jourdren with a left-footed strike.

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It was a really end-to-end opening half and on 20 minutes Jourdren had to be alert again from a Christophe Mandanne shot with Thibault Giresse's follow-up effort blocked.

The opening goal finally came on 25 minutes and it was worth waiting for, as Tiene struck a 30-yard free kick into the top corner with his left foot.

Just two minutes later Montpellier doubled their lead. Benjamin Stambouli met an M'Baye Niang nod-down to poke in from close range.

The hosts came out strongly in the second half and could have got a goal back after 10 minutes, but Mandanne's effort went not too far wide of the post.

They did pull one back with half-an-hour to play through Yatabare, but despite some pressure, Montpellier held on for the three points in this crucial clash.