Rennes 0-0 Nantes Ligue 1 Report: : Local rivals play out dull stalemate

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Rennes had the better of the game, and created a series of half-chances, but on every occasion they were thwarted by Remy Riou.

The Nantes goalkeeper was the game’s outstanding player and was on hand to ensure that the Canaries avoided defeat to their eternal rivals. The stopper has recently been linked with a move to Corsican side SC Bastia, and after this showing, it was easy to see why Sporting would be interested in his acquisition.

A draw sees Rennes remain in 11th place, having accrued 39 points from 30 matches. However, with almost all of the sides in the bottom half taking points, the Red and Blacks are only seven points from the relegation zone.

Nantes are faring little better, and sit only one point and two places above Philippe Montanier’s men.

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Zlatan fires PSG top with hat-trick against Lorient

Last update Yesterday at 23:17 - Published on 20/03/2015 at 23:17

Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic put his disciplinary woes aside on Friday, taking his side back to the top of Ligue 1 with a hat-trick in their 3-1 home victory over FC Lorient.

PSG's talisman was banned for one match by UEFA's Control & Disciplinary Body after being sent off during a Champions League last 16 match at Chelsea last week.

And he also faces French League's (LFP) disciplinary commission to explain derogatory remarks he made about refereeing after PSG's loss at Girondins Bordeaux last week.

However, he showed his good side as PSG moved a point clear of Olympique Lyon who play on Saturday.

After two minutes the pony-tailed Swede slotted a penalty after being up-ended by keeper Benjamin Lecomte up-ended him as he ran on to a long ball.

Lecomte received a yellow card for his challenge.

Ezequiel Lavezzi missed a sitter for PSG half an hour in.

A cheeky backheel from Ibramovic sent him clear on the edge of the box but he pushed the ball into the side netting for one of a series of missed opportunities for the league leaders.

Lorient equalised midway through the second half whenBenjamin Jeannot teed up a strike for Jordan Ayew.

Ayew had another shot cleared off the line a few minutes later, sparking the game into life with 15 minutes to go.

Ibrahimovic then showed his prowess from the spot again in the 82nd minute after Lamine Kone's foul on Javier Pastore.

He completed his hat-trick on full time.

Lyon, one point behind PSG on 58 points, are at home to Niceon Saturday while third-placed Marseille, on 54, travel to second-from-bottom RC Lens on Sunday.

Lyon and Marseille settle for share of points in tense draw

Neither Marseille nor Lyon were able to take full advantage of Paris St Germain losing 3-2 at Bordeaux as they cancelled each other out in a tense goalless draw at the Stade Velodrome.

The stalemate gives Hubert Fournier's Lyon a two-point lead over PSG at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, but they might be relieved to escape with a draw after a Lucas Ocampos effort was controversially ruled out late on for the hosts.

Third-placed Marseille, who had Jeremy Morel sent off late on, thought they had opened the scoring with eight minutes remaining as substitute Ocampos looked to have flicked home at the far post and wheeled away in celebration.

But referee Benoit Bastien ignored the claims, instead judging that scrambling Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes managed to prevent the ball creeping over the line, with TV replays proving inconclusive.

The draw leaves L'OM four points behind Lyon and two behind PSG as the title race begins to hot up.

With so much at stake, both sides began brightly and could easily have had a goal a piece inside the opening 10 minutes.

Firstly, Andre-Pierre Gignac worked Lopes when he cut in from the right to beat Samuel Umtiti but the Portugal keeper saved well with his feet before Steve Mandanda did superbly well to prevent Alexandre Lacazette at the other end after the in-form striker burst through on goal from Jordan Ferri's pass.

Marseille went close again with 13 minutes on the clock but, after Gignac cut the ball back into his path, Benjamin Mendy shot straight at Lopes.

LIGUE 1 RESULTS

• • Nice 1, Guingamp 2
• • Monaco 3, Bastia 0
• • Metz 2, St. Etienne 3
• • Montpellier 3, Reims 1
• • Nantes 2, Evian 1
• • Lorient 2, Caen 1
• • Lens 1, Toulouse 0
• • Lille 3, Rennes 0
• • Bordeaux 3, PSG 2
• • Marseille 0, Lyon 0

Marseille continued to work Lopes and he had his biggest test just before the half-hour mark when Mendy's delivery found Gignac, but his header was expertly turned around the post by the Lyon keeper just as the ball seemed likely to nestle in the bottom corner.

The early high tempo dwindled as the game slipped into a lull either side of half time, with a long-range effort from Dimitri Payet, which Lopes gathered with ease, as close as either side went opening the scoring before the hour mark.

Marcelo Bielsa threw on Monaco loanee Ocampos in an effort to improve his side's impetus and the young Argentine was inches away from making an immediate impact when he just failed to get on the end of Andre Ayew's flick-on.

Lyon responded and should have scored but Lacazette fired straight at Mandanda from six yards after meeting Nabil Fekir's teasing free-kick before L'OM went even closer.

Untiti's lapse defending gifted Gignac possession and, after holding off a Henri Bedimo challenge, he fired an effort beyond Lopes but the upright came to Lyon's rescue as Ayew was unable to get close to the rebound.

The game sprung back into life inside the final 10 minutes when Ocampos appeared to bundle the ball over the line from a corner but, after wheeling away in celebration, referee Bastien waved play-on.

Then, just two minutes later, Bastien had more work to do after Morel cynically hauled down Maxime Gonalons, leaving the referee with little choice but to show the experienced defender a straight red as tempers began to flare on the pitch and in the stands.

Ten-man Marseille rode their luck late on, with Mandanda's heroics preventing Corentin Tolisso's effort from creeping in the bottom corner before the Lyon defender saw a header well saved deep into stoppage-time.

Ligue 1 match report: Lens beat Toulouse to boost survival hopes

Lens gave their Ligue 1 survival hopes a much needed shot in the arm as they ended a nine-game winless run by beating fellow strugglers Toulouse at Stade de la Licorne.

Antoine Kombouare's men had lost their preceding four matches in the league, while their recent run had encompassed six defeats.

So it will be of some relief to the northern club that they claimed a battling 1-0 victory on Saturday night, with Pablo Chavarria's 76th-minute goal the difference between the two teams.

It was a win that moved them seven points adrift of safety and only four behind 18th-placed Toulouse, who have now lost three of their last four.

The home side nearly went ahead in the opening minute, with Toulouse goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher forced to keep out Jerome Lemoigne's flick on from Wylan Cyprien's corner.

At the other end Wissam Ben Yedder headed wide, while Adrien Regattin's low strike was saved by Rudy Riou after Lens had failed to clear their lines.

But Boucher had to make a superb reflex save from Pierrick Valdivia's volley at the far post from Cyprien's corner as Lens continued to threaten at set pieces.

Toulouse ended the half strongly as Oscar Trejo jinked his way into space before shooting narrowly over the bar from just outside the area.

Yoann Touzghar headed ove,r while Madagascan midfielder Lalaina Nomenjanahary's strike also missed the target as Lens begin to flex their muscles in the second half.

And they took advantage of Toulouse's frailties at corners to take the lead with just 14 minutes remaining.

Nomenjanahary's set-piece was only partially cleared to Ludovic Baal, who sent the ball in again for Chavarria to swoop in and fire a close-range strike past Boucher.

Toulouse almost levelled matters immediately afterwards, but Riou made an important block off Ben Yedder and that was as close as the visitors came, with Lens holding on for just their sixth win of the campaign.

Lyon scores a dramatic win over Evian Thonon Gaillard 3-2

Lyon snatch late win at Evian

Lyon had to twice come from behind before snatching a 3-2 Ligue 1 victory over Evian in injury time.

Cedric Barbosa put Evian 1-0 and 2-1 up but Alexandre Lacazette, whose free-kick led to the first equaliser from Yassine Benzia, scored twice in the final 10 minutes to turn the game Lyon's way.

Lacazette's shot led to Reims goalkeeper Johnny Placide's own goal which handed Lyon another stoppage-time winner on Tuesday and the Ligue 1 top scorer's late intervention here returned his side to third in the table.

Home goalkeeper Jesper Hansen was the star of the first half, keeping out Steed Malbranque's shot after the midfielder was set up by Lacazette and then producing a fine double save from Benzia.

Against the run of play, Evian were awarded a free-kick in the 28th minute and Barbosa - leading the line in the absence of key man Daniel Wass - fired the ball into the top corner to leave keeper Anthony Lopes helpless.

And they could have gone in at half-time two goals to the good, but Modou Sougou steered Clarck Nsikulu's cross just wide of the post.

As it was, though, Lyon levelled shortly after the hour. Again the goal came from a free-kick, Lacazette's effort saved by Hansen but Benzia following up to score.

Barbosa quickly restored Evian's lead as Nsikulu crossed to Sougou, who teed up the fast-arriving Barbosa for a left-foot finish.

Hansen made a stunning save when Lacazette headed Nabil Fekir's cross goalwards.

But he was beaten in the 81st minute when Rachid Ghezzal swung a corner to the far post and Lacazette controlled before firing ferociously under the crossbar to level the scores.

Sougou and Fekir missed chances to win the game for their respective sides but Lyon were handed their chance from the spot in stoppage time.

Adrien Thomasson was harshly adjudged to have handled Christophe Jallet's cross and Lacazette, who missed a penalty in last week's 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals St Etienne, held his nerve this time to send Hansen the wrong way and notch his 13th league goal of the season.

St. Etienne, Nantes draw 0-0

Nantes draw with Saint-Etienne

Nantes extended their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions by drawing 0-0 with Saint-Etienne on Sunday to stay fifth in the French league.

Meanwhile, Montpellier moved into ninth place by defeating Toulouse 2-0. Later on Sunday, Marseille hosts Bordeaux.

Saint-Etienne came close to opening the scoring in the first half with winger Kevin Monnet-Paquet, who had a low attempt saved by goalkeeper Remy Riou in the third minute before hitting the post in the 25th.

Nantes proved more threatening in the second half, testing goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier with a low strike from forward Itay Shechter in the 56th and a long-range effort from midfielder Georges-Kevin Nkoudou in the 77th.

Riou salvaged a point for the tightest defense in the league by tipping a curling shot from Saint-Etienne substitute Max-Alain Gradel in the 88th over the bar and denying winger Romain Hamouma in stoppage time.

Saint-Etienne stayed one point behind Nantes in the standings.

In Montpellier, Anthony Mounier pounced on a poor clearance from the Toulouse defence to fire home a half-volley in the 37th. The Montpellier winger missed a scoring chance in the 59th, volleying wide a cross from forward Souleymane Camara. But the hosts added a second goal in the 87th when Djamel Bakar fed Camara, who beat goalkeeper Ali Ahamada with a low strike.

On Saturday, it was: Bastia 0, Lyon 0; Guingamp 0, Rennes 1; Lorient 1, Lens 0; Monaco 2, Caen 2; and Nice 0, Reims 0.

PSG edged Metz 3-2 on Friday to have a provisional two-point lead over Marseille.

The match between Lille and Evian was postponed to January 7 because Stade Pierre Mauroy hosted the Davis Cup final this weekend.

Gourcuff goal lifts Lyon, ends Marseille winning streak 1-0

Lyon victory ends Marseille's eight-match winning streak

Lyon ended Marseille's eight-match winning run in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 triumph at the Stade de Gerland on Sunday night.

Yoann Gourcuff's 64th-minute strike against the run of play was enough to steer Les Gones to victory over the league leaders.

l'OM, who have won eight of their first 11 matches, are four points clear of second-placed Paris St Germain at the top but Lyon are now up to third and five points off first place themselves.

Lyon made a positive start and Gourcuff looked to test the Marseille defence early on with a couple of dangerous deliveries from free-kicks, but Marcelo Bielsa's team stood firm before Christophe Jallet found himself in a shooting position only to fire over.

However, it was Marseille who went closest to scoring early on with their first real chance but Andre Ayew's curling effort from the edge of the area was matched by Anthony Lopes' diving save.

Then, Benjamin Mendy found himself free on the right but Florian Thauvin was unable to capitalise on his delivery to the back post, volleying wide of Lopes' goal.

Despite dominating possession, Lyon were struggling to create chances and it was l'OM who went close again after the restart but Andre-Pierre Gignac saw his stinging effort turned away once again by Lopes.

The visitors continued to knock on the door and next up Mendy went even closer to beating Lopes but his side-footed effort from 16 yards came back off the post before Gignac fired wide of the target on the follow up.

Lopes was called upon again, this time pulling off his best save of the evening to deny Ayew after Thauvin had superbly picked out the Ghanaian before Lyon took the lead against the run of play.

Alexandre Lacazette was the provider and his pass found Gourcuff who burst into the box before coming back on to his left foot and powering an emphatic shot beyond a sea of bodies to give the host an undeserved advantage on 64 minutes.

Bielsa's men tried to offer an instant response but, when Thauvin picked out Ayew from a corner the latter could only fire wide with a first-time header.

As the clock ticked away it was Lyon who looked the more likely to get a second, with Lacazette going close after a powerful run but his shot was gathered low down by Steve Mandanda at the second attempt.

Substitute Clinton N'Jie was the next to test Mandanda, this time in stoppage time, but in the end it was the hosts who secured all three points.

Olympique Marseille continues its winning run, beats Toulouse 2-0

Gignac nets again as Marseille beats Toulouse 2-0

PARIS (AP) — Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac scored his 10th league goal in as many games as league leader Marseille beat Toulouse 2-0 on Sunday to secure an eighth straight win and stay seven points ahead of bitter rival Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux.

Gignac, who struggled with weight problems when he joined Marseille four years ago, is thriving under new coach Marcelo Bielsa's strict, disciplinarian approach.After center half Nicolas Nkoulou put Marseille ahead in the 21st minute with an effort that appeared to come off the top of his shoulder, Gignac made it 11 in 11 for club and country when he finished off a fine one-touch passing move in the 36th.

"We worked ferociously hard for four days during the week and the efforts paid off," said Gignac, who says he is five kilograms lighter than he was last season, when Marseille was regularly jeered by its home fans and finished in sixth place — a massive 29 points behind champion PSG.

"Everyone knows that last year we suffered and so we're savoring things this season," Gignac said. "Everything's in place for us to have a good season, we're sticking together, the team's playing well. But we musn't get carried away."

Bordeaux missed the chance to leapfrog PSG and move into outright second place when it drew 1-1 at home to lowly Caen.

Marseille has 25 points after 10 rounds, with PSG leading Bordeaux on goal difference.Mali forward Cheick Diabate put Bordeaux ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first half, but striker Herve Bazile equalized in the 77th.

Meanwhile, midfielder Yoann Gourcuff scored twice as Lyon beat Montpellier 5-1 to make it six games unbeaten and climb up to fourth place, one point behind PSG and Bordeaux.

Midfielders Nabil Fekir and Steed Malbranque and striker Alexandre Lacazette also scored, while defender Siaka Tiene pulled a goal back for mid-table Montpellier.

The Argentine coach Bielsa has transformed Marseille, which equaled its record for successive wins in front of a club record 62,000 home fans at Stade Velodrome.

The only tricky moment for Bielsa came when, as he went to sit down on a drinks cooler near the touchline, he inadvertently sat on a small cup of coffee that one of his assistants had placed there seconds earlier."Equaling this record makes me very proud," Bielsa said. "We were excellent in the first half and the second half was more even. I'm very happy with the job we did and most of the team played at a very high level.

"I couldn't even drink it, which is a pity," Bielsa joked after the game.

Marseille, however, was indebted to goalkeeper Steve Mandanda early on, after he made a superb reflex save to tip forward Denis Braithwaite's shot onto the crossbar.

Nkoulou settled the nerves when he turned in a free kick from Dimitri Payet who, like Gignac, returned to the France team last week for a match away at Armenia in which Gignac scored one and set up two in a 3-0 win.

"Marseille deserved to win," Toulouse coach Alain Casanova said. "Unfortunately we couldn't take our chances."After a flowing Marseille move, Gignac timed his run well to turn a cross from Benjamin Mendy past goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher.

Marseille will try and set a new club record for consecutive wins when it travels to play Lyon next Sunday.

"Lyon is very good at home," Gignac said. "But I'm sure the coach will put a plan into place."

PSG beat Lens 3-1 on Friday.

Monaco scored a win over Evian Thonon Gaillard 2-0

Ligue 1 Review: Monaco beat Evian, Saint-Etienne go fourth

19 October 2014

Monaco produced further evidence of an upturn in form with a 2-0 Ligue 1 win over Evian on Saturday.

Having made a disappointing start to life under Leonardo Jardim, the Principality club have shown signs of improvement in recent fixtures, claiming a 0-0 stalemate at Zenit in the UEFA Champions League before holding chamions Paris Saint-Germain to a 1-1 draw.

And they built on those two strong results with a comfortable victory at the Stade Louis II.

Joao Moutinho put the hosts ahead after just two minutes from the penalty spot, and the points were made safe in bizarre fashion in the 70th minute as Ricardo Carvalho's clearance bounced over the head of Evian goalkeeper Jesper Hansen, allowing midfielder Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco to slot into an empty net.

Monaco remain in the bottom half in 11th despite that success, but Saint-Etienne are up to fourth after Fabien Lemoine's 87th minute goal gave Christophe Galtier's side a 1-0 triumph at Lorient.

Saint-Etienne are into the top four as a consequence of slip-ups by Nantes and Lille.

Nantes were held to a 1-1 home draw by Reims, while Lille suffered their third league loss in four matches with a 2-1 reverse at home to struggling 10-man Guingamp.

Lille dominated proceedings, attempting 28 shots to Guingamp's five, yet it was the visiting Coupe de France holders that proved the more clinical side.

A Claudio Beauvue header and a low strike from Ronnie Schwartz put Guingamp in control but midfielder Rio Mavuba hit back in the 79th minute to give Lille hope.

Guingamp defender Benjamin Angoua was shown a straight red card for pulling back Nolan Roux four minutes from time but Lille could not make their numerical advantage count as Guingamp ended their four-match losing streak in the league.

Elsewhere, Bastia won 1-0 at Nice thanks to Floyd Ayite's 51st-minute winner and Metz drew 0-0 with Rennes.

Germain scores as Monaco overcome Montpellier 1-0

Germain fires Monaco to victory

Valere Germain's last minute goal gave Monaco a 1-0 victory at Montpellier in Ligue 1.

Just when it seemed the game was destined to end goalless, substitute Germain received the ball from Layvin Kurzawa and netted to give Monaco a second away win of the season, which moves them into mid-table.

Montpellier were the first side to threaten in the fifth minute - but Kevin Berigaud, under pressure from Ricardo Carvalho, shot over from 12 yards.

The visitors, unbeaten in league play in Montpellier since 1990, hit back four minutes later when Geoffrey Kongdobia shot over - and in the 15th minute Kurzawa picked out Joao Moutinho but the unmarked Portugal international headed straight at Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren from eight yards.

Berigaud had a goal for Montpellier ruled out for offside in the 20th minute, before play swung to the other end where Jourden smothered an effort from Fabinho.

The home side's best first-half chance came six minutes before the interval when Anthony Mounier shot wide, after the ball broke for him when goalkeeper Daniel Subasic came off his line to deny Lucas Barrios.

Monaco's Geoffrey Kondogbia tried his luck from 25 yards out but the impeccable Jourdren collected in the 58th minute.

Mounier found space on the left in the 64th minute and crossed for Souleymane Camara, who headed over, then the same player fired a half-volley straight at Subasic.

Camara went close again with a header but his glancing effort from Mounier's delivery ended up going just wide.

However, the visitors finished strongest and after Jeremy Toulalan had seen a superb 20-yard volley from a corner hacked off the line by Morgan Sanson, they won it when Kurzawa set up Germain, who finished emphatically from 10 yards.

Bastia, Nantes share a point in a scoreless draw

Nantes held at Bastia

Nantes continued their topsy-turvy start to the season as they were held to a goalless draw by Ligue 1 strugglers Bastia at the Stade Armand Cesari on Wednesday night.

The hosts, who have won just one match so far this term - a 1-0 win over Toulouse in Corsica last month - at least managed to keep their second clean sheet as they fended off a penalty and fought on with 10 men for the majority of the match after Yannick Cahuzac saw red five minutes before the break.

The point moved Nantes level on points with fifth-placed Metz, while it meant a leap out of the relegation zone for Bastia, who are now 16th.

Chaker Alhadhur had a good chance to hand the visitors the lead after 12 minutes but his 25-yard effort flew harmlessly over the bar in the only action of note in a quiet opening quarter of an hour.

Just after the half-hour mark, the Canaries pressed forward for the second time as Issa Cissokho burst into the 18-yard box after being released by Lucas Deaux but - from a tight angle - the full-back saw his effort kept out by on-loan Paris St Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

After 39 minutes Nantes were awarded a penalty after N'Koudou was hauled down in the box by Mathieu Peybernes. In the melee Cahuzac was shown a straight red card for being too aggressive towards the referee.

Chaker Alhadhur stepped up to take the spot-kick but Areola stood strong and chose right as he saved the 22-year-old's effort to keep the scores level at the break.

Areola was called upon again midway through the second half as Serge Gakpe found Cissokho on the right side of the penalty box and his pull back found Alejandro Bedoya, but the American international's effort was held out by.

Deep into the second period Bastia midfielder Romaric made a mistake and gifted Yacine Bammou with a shooting opportunity but, not for the first time in the match, the impressive Areola was on hand to keep the away side at bay.

The Blues almost had the chance to steal a win in the dying minutes as Juan Pino got free on the wing and his powerful delivery towards Hervin Ongenda almost caught out visiting keeper Remy Riou - but he made a great reflex save to prevent the 10 men taking the lead as the points were shared.

Toulouse dealt Rennes its second straight loss 3-0

Stade Rennes 0-3 Toulouse: On Target Visitors Brush Aside Rennes

It was the away side Toulouse that ran away with all three points as they looked good their 3-0 win over struggling Stade Rennes.

The hosts started the game as the better of the two as Paul-Georges Ntep had his shot well saved down low by the keeper. The visitors started to find their feet in the match when Dragos Grigore helped the ball on with his head into the path of Adrien Regattin, who had a go, but the keeper managed to keep the game level with a good stop.

Despite this, the home side continued to look bright in the early stages as Paul-Georges Ntep produced a fine cross towards Fallou Diagne, who thrush his head and it and forced a goo save from the man in between the sticks.

After a good spell of play from Rennes, the visitors found their breakthrough three minutes before the break. The ball was cut back to Aleksandar Pesic, and his finish was clinical as he found the bottom left corner of the goal to ensure that Toulouse entered the halfway stage with the advantage.

Toulouse came close to their second twelve minutes into the second half when Tongo Doumbia saw his header hit the upright. Their lead was two though as the ball took a defletion on its’ way to goal off Fallou Diagneto gift the visitors a healthy two goal advantage. It could have been three moments later when Paul-Georges Ntep watched his header just evade the post.

The away side did make it three just a minute later when Wissam Ben Yedder showed composure to finish off a good Toulouse move, and in the process wrapped up the game, making sure that Rennes would not take anything from the game.

The hosts tried to force their way back into the game, but had no luck in the closing stages as Toulouse kept hold of their three goal advantage to emerge as deserved 3-0 winners.

Lille lost top spot after Montpellier draw 0-0

 

Lille concede top spot with Montpellier draw

Unable to find a way past a solid Montpellier outfit at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Sunday, Lille drew 0-0 and slipped to third place. Still, René Girard's men remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season with just a single goal conceded.

Lille topped the Ligue 1 table after last weekend's 2-o win over Nantes, but after Marseille's win over Rennes on Saturday, René Girard's men needed to do better than the 0-0 draw with Montpellier - where the league's top two defences reigned - to hang onto top spot.

Perhaps paying the costs of their mid-week Europa League exertions in the 1-1 with FK Krasnodar, Lille - without injured striker Nolan Roux - struggled to make the most of their chances in the first half despite dominating proceedings and constructing their play well.

Lille menace up front

Switzerland U-21 international Michael Frey, signed from Young Boys Bern in the summer, made his first start for Les Dogues in place of Roux and linked up well with strike partner Ryan Mendes and Portuguese playmaker Marcos 'Rony' Lopes but failed to make the break on several occasions (6', 10', 18').

Belgian Jonathan Delaplace had Lille's best chance but shot across the face of goal after some neat one-touch play with Frey and Lopes (24') and although Lille's forward line seemed to be wearing Montpellier's five-man defence down, raining shots on goal, the sides went into the break with the corers still untroubled.

Sanson impact

Looking for more cutting edge up front, and perhaps sensing that Lille's relentless forward movement could leave them open at the back, Montpellier boss Rolland Courbis switched his 5-4-1 formation to a 4-4-2 with 20-year-old midfield sensation Morgan Sanson coming on for Paul Lasne and Kévin Bérigaud and Victor-Hugo Montaño playing alongside each other up front.

The visitors looked a different side after Sanson's entry into play, and as they began to move forward, left-back Siaka Tiéné carved out his side's best chance of the match as he raced onto Bérigaud's lay-off and launch a curler that had Vincent Enyeama beaten but which flew narrowly wide of the target (60').

Lille's chance to reclaim top spot comes with Wednesday's trip to Nice, while Montpellier, who climbed from 6^th to provisional fourth place with the draw, will play host to Monaco, also on Wednesday.