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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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.

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.

Origi leads Lille over Nantes 2-0

Divock Origi scores as Lille beat Nantes

Lille continued their good start to the Ligue 1 season with an impressive 2-0 win against Nantes, who were made to pay for not making the most of their dominance in the first half.

Second-half goals from Divock Origi and Marco Lopes earned Rene Girard's unbeaten side the spoils as they moved on to 11 points from five games.

Nantes, meanwhile, remain on seven points after slumping to their second loss.

Both teams enjoyed some goalmouth action early on, with Lille striker Nolan Roux forcing a save from Maxime Dupe inside 10 minutes following some good work from Origi before Olivier Veigneau fired over at the other end.

Nantes defender Papy Djilobodji missed an attempted bicycle kick moments later before the visitors had a penalty claim turned down when Serge Gakpe went down under David Rozenhal's challenge inside the hosts' area.

Les Canaries maintained their promising start as the first half wore on and Gakpe wasted a great opportunity when he failed to apply the finish after Vincent Enyeama spilled Alejandro Bedoya's goal-bound header.

Fittingly, Nantes went the closest to opening the scoring inside the first 45 minutes when Jordan Veretout burst forward from midfield before firing a powerful shot beyond Enyeama only to see it come back off the post.

The visitors, though, paid the price for not converting their first-half domination into goals as Lille scored twice in quick succession at the start of the second half to take the win.

Their first goal came just 60 seconds after the restart, with Rio Mavuba finding Florent Balmont whose pinpoint cross was powered home at the far post by Origi for his second of the season.

Lille's roaring start to the second period continued as Girard's men doubled their lead shortly before the 50-minute mark.

On-loan Liverpool striker Origi turned provider this time round and his pass on the counter found half-time substitute Lopes who coolly sent Dupe the wrong way with a confident finish.

The hosts continued to press and could have added a third when Balmont's powerful drive threatened to sneak inside Dupe's post until the young goalkeeper got down to turn it away for a corner.

The introduction of Lopes at half-time proved to be an inspired move by Girard as the Manchester City loanee continued to taunt the visitors, drawing another smart save from Dupe with an effort from just inside the box before teeing up Idrissa Gueye who was denied yet again by the busy Nantes stopper.

Nolan Roux goal brings Lille to victory over FC Nantes

Lille forward Nolan Roux produce the solitary goal in an exciting but almost scoreless game against FC Nantes. 

The break came in the 41st minute when Rony Rodelin's probing cross resulted into a sliding goal by Nolan Roux. Roux, who looks like in an offside position beat his man, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo,  to score in a sliding side volley right in front of the goal. 

Earlier, in the 27th minute, Vincent Bessat almost gave Nantes the lead had he been able to catch a pinpoint cross from Jordan Veretout. 

In the 73rd minute, Lille threatened to pad the lead with Salomon Kalou's header which however went straight to Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou.  In the 80th minute, it was Lille goal keeper who stand his ground as he deflected two goal potential shots, first, knocking the ball over the head of striker Felip Djordevic and second blocking another side volley of substitute Fernando Aristeguieta. 

Nantes was reduced to ten men after Papy Nilson Djilobodji was sent off on a foul on Salomon Kalou in the 83rd minute. But still Lille failed to capitalize the advantage and was not able to add another goal until the end of the game.