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.

Ruffier's howler set up Paris Saint Germain onslaught on St. Etienne 5-0

FIVE-STAR PARIS!

In their second home match of the season, Paris were far too strong for Saint-Etienne on Sunday, running out 5-0 winners at the Parc. A five-star performance with a stunning individual display from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, returning from injury and netting a hat-trick.

It was a highly-anticipated clash, with a European feel, and it ended with a Parisian master class! The main message to take from the evening: the French champions ended the month of August by flexing their might. Defensively, Paris kept a third consecutive clean sheet, thanks in large part to a spectacular Salvatore Sirigu (36', 82'). In midfield, the Italian duo Verratti and Motta monopolised the ball, while Pastore lit up the Parc with his skills. While in attack... Ibra's hat-trick (41', 63', 72'), and a superb Cavani strike (65') showcased the pairs class! Rarely troubled by a Saint-Etienne side feeling the effects of their Europa League joust on Thursday, the capital club fulfilled their objectives in the second home match of the season: turn on the style for their adoring public; send a serious message to the rest of the Ligue 1: this side is ready to move back to the top of the standings! After just four games, Bordeaux are just two points clear. Now Les Rouge et Bleu must go on with the job away to Rennes in two weeks' time.

In recent years, the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper has shown against Paris that he is one of the best in the land. Three days after his penalty shoot-out heroics sent ASSE into the group stage of the Champions League, the 'keeper endured a difficult night. It all started in the 24th minute, with a back pass from Clément that the France international miss-controlled and let run into his own net (24'). It was the moment that marked the beginning of the Parisian onslaught.

We were waiting for his comeback and it was... impressive, to say the least! In his very physical battle with the Stéphanois Mustapha Sall, the Swedish giant won by a knockout! He opened his account with a powerful header just before the break (41'), before adding two more goals as he raced clear of the Verts' defence. One-on-one with Zlatan, the sanction is always the same… Ruffier and his defence found out first hand (63', 72'). Zlatan received an ovation, in accordance with his performance - magnificent (74'). With 5 goals after 4 Ligue 1 matches, the number 10 is already top of the goal-scoring charts. Zlatan left the field, with the match ball for the sixth time.

Saint Etienne beat Falcao less Monaco 2-0

Yahoo News

PARIS (AP) — Saint-Etienne made up ground in the race for a Champions League spot by defeating Monaco 2-0 in the French league to provisionally move into third place on Saturday. Fabien Lemoine fired a half-volley into the top corner in the 17th minute and Romain Hamouma doubled the lead for the hosts with a long-range strike in the 66th.

"We had an off day," Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia said. "We're disappointed by our performance and the result."

Paris Saint-Germain holds a five-point lead over Monaco at the top of the league and hosts Marseille on Sunday.

Lemoine shone in the first half, pouncing on a corner poorly cleared by the Monaco defense to score from 30 meters. The Saint-Etienne midfielder came close to adding a second goal in the 41st when Brandao set him up, but goalkeeper Danijel Subasic turned around the post his diagonal strike. Lemoine also saved his team by clearing off the line a close-range effort from Monaco defender Nicolas Isimat-Mirin in the 39th.

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri made a tactical shift at halftime by replacing Joao Moutinho and Anthony Martial with Lucas Ocampos and Nabil Dirar.

Saint-Etienne nearly caught Monaco off guard at the restart when Josuha Guilavogui connected with a free kick from Hamouma, but Subasic stopped the header from the Saint-Etienne midfielder in the 46th. Goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier protected Saint-Etienne's lead in the following minute by parrying a powerful drive from Valere Germain and denying James Rodriguez, who was clean through on goal.

Hamouma dashed Monaco's hopes of coming back with a solo run from his own half. The Saint-Etienne winger outpaced four players and notched his eighth league goal with a swerving shot that Subasic could only palm into his own net.

"We have no big stars but we pull for each other a lot," Saint-Etienne defender Francois Clerc said. "We will need to be consistent for a good finish at the end of the season."

Saint-Etienne beat 10-man Lille

From Sports Mole.  http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/lille/result/result-saint-etienne-beat-10-man-lille_131039.html

Simon Kjaer and Salomon Kalou both had early chances for the visitors, while Florent Balmont had an effort from range which just missed the target. Kalou had a series of chances just before the break, before Renaud Cohade tested the Lille keeper with a 25-yard strike for the home side.

After a quiet start to the second half, Lille continued to create the majority of the chances, but it was Saint-Etienne who broke the deadlock, with Brandao heading in from close range following a Faouzi Ghoulamcross. 

Nolan Roux almost got the visitors back on level terms within two minutes, but his left-footed strike from saved. The hosts were able to double their lead shortly after though, when Romain Hamouma's shot was parried into the path of Franck Tabanou, who was left with an easy finish. 

 The situation got worse in the aftermath of the goal, as Balmont blamed the referee for not spotting a foul in the build up to the goal, earning him a red card. Brandao came close to bagging a brace, testing Vincent Enyeama with a long-range effort, but the Lille keeper was able to make the save late on. The results closes the gap between between the fourth-placed hosts and Lille, who sit third in the table.