Radamel Falcao hat trick as Monaco go level on points with Nice

Radamel Falcao scored his first hat-trick of the season as free-scoring Monaco moved level on points with Nice atop the table following a confident 4-0 defeat of 10-man Bordeaux.

Leonardo Jardim's side made an astonishing start and found themselves two goals to the good inside just four minutes.

With less than 120 seconds on the clock, Bernardo Silva's pass released Djibril Sidibe into the box and the defender's first time hit nestled in the far corner.

Then, almost immediately, Falcao prodded home from close range after Valere Germain's delivery picked out the Colombian at the back post.

It could easily have been three just after 10 minutes when Silva broke into the edge of the area but his cross was kept out by Jerome Prior as Monaco threatened a landslide.

The visitors two-goal advantage remained intact at the break but they did not have to wait long for a third after the restart.

On the counter-attack, Thomas Lemar's pinpoint switch found Germain who neatly picked out Falcao to add his second of the game, rounding Prior with his first touch before finishing.

And Falcao was handed an opportunity to seal his hat-trick when Monaco were awarded a dubious looking penalty, much to the displeasure of Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil.

The former Atletico Madrid man took charge from 12 yards and confidently sent Prior the wrong way for his 10th goal in the previous six league outings.

Bordeaux's misery was compounded on 68 minutes when Adam Ounas was shown a straight red card after a foul on Sidibe.