Brazil's set piece artist Juninho opened the scoring 20 minutes into the top-of-table clash with a superb free kick from 20 metres.

Young striker Karim Benzema doubled the advantage with an angled volley from inside the box after a fluent move three minutes into the second half.

Marseille were reduced to 10 men when Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo was sent off for a tackle from behind on France midfielder Florent Malouda after 56 minutes.

The home side kept fighting, however, and reduced the arrears in the 70th minute through substitute forward Habib Bamogo, who appeared to be offside when he collected a Franck Ribery pass to score from close range.

Eight minutes later, Juninho was on target again, shattering Marseille's hopes from just inside the area after another clever Lyon combination. Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom completed the demolition with three minutes remaining.

"It was an exceptional performance with plenty of high quality football," said Lyon coach Gerard Houllier.

"The spirit in the team is such that the players try to get better every match. They are full of confidence and always try to play superb football."

FRED INJURY

Lyon's spectacular show was marred by an injury sustained by Brazil forward Fred, who had to be substituted on 25 minutes with a sore right thigh. Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told reporters Fred was expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks with a torn thigh muscle.

Marseille coach Albert Emon admitted there was little his team could do against such a merciless winning machine.

"We wanted to win that match but we found ourselves against a team at the peak of their powers," he said. "They taught us a football lesson." Lyon, trying to become the first club from a major European league to win six league titles in succession, have won their last 11 competitive matches.

They have shone domestically and in the Champions League with three wins in the group stage.

Houllier's men top the Ligue 1 table with 28 points from a maximum 30 after 10 games, with Marseille second on 20.

Auxerre and Paris St Germain failed to improve on tentative starts to the season when they shared a goalless draw in the other game played on Sunday.

PSG created the best chances, especially in the first half, but were thwarted by the home side.

Auxerre are 12th in the table with 13 points from 10 games. PSG lie 13th, a point adrift.