Mario Balotelli was sent off as Nice finished __with nine men in their 0-0 Ligue 1 draw at Bordeaux.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker saw red for for a petulant kick out at Bordeaux defender Igor Lewczuk in stoppage time.
Younes Belhanda was sent off minutes later as the league leaders saw their advantage at the top cut to two points.
Lucien Favre's side will now start 2017 without two key players after the pair were shown straight red cards in the closing stages.
Radamel Falcao scored a penalty in a 2-1 win over Caen as second-placed Monaco rebounded from their defeat at home to Lyon last weekend.
The Colombia striker won and converted a spot-kick shortly after half-time for his 11th goal of the season before Tiemoue Bakayoko scored for the second game running at the Stade Louis II.
Herve Bazile grabbed a consolation for Caen in stoppage time.
Edinson Cavani struck his league-best 18th goal this term as reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain ended a three-games winless run __with a five-goal demolition of bottom side Lorient at the Parc des Princes.
Unai Emery had challenged his players to finish 2016 on a high after a series of disappointing results and Belgium international Thomas Meunier opened the scoring with a superb 25th-minute lob.
Lorient centre-back Zargo Toure turned a cross from Lucas into his own net for PSG's second just before the break, and captain Thiago Silva headed in a third minutes after the restart.
Cavani tucked away a penalty after he was brought down in the area, with Brazilian international Lucas racing onto a fine Marco Verratti pass to seal a resounding victory.
PSG head into the break trailing Nice by five points as they chase a fifth consecutive French title.
Lyon claimed their fourth win in a row with France internationals Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir on target in a 2-0 triumph over Angers.
Bafetimbi Gomis scored his 10th goal of the campaign to help Rudi Garcia's Marseille beat Bastia 2-1 and extend their winning run.
Marseille looked destined to leave Corsica with just a point after Alexander Djiku levelled on 83 minutes, but on-loan Tottenham Hotspur forward Clinton Njie swept home an injury-time winner.
Portugal striker Eder rescued a point for Lille with superbly-taken late volley in a 1-1 draw with Rennes, while Nantes continued their resurgence under former Portuguese international Sergio Conceicao by beating Montpellier 1-0 to climb out of the relegation places.