Ligue 1 leaders Olympique de Marseille remain five points clear of second-placed AJ Auxerre with three matches to play after a tense encounter between the pair ended 0-0 on Friday.

In a first half of few chances for either team at Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps, Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena fashioned the clearest with a cross to the far post which Lucho González could only help into the grateful hands of Olivier Sorin with his knee. It was a similar situation after the break with neither side prepared to take a risk which could jeopardise their title chances. When an opportunity did arise it again fell to the visitors with Brandão firing wide a neat header into his path from strike partner Mamadou Niang.

Auxerre travel to Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday while OM − who had won their last eight matches in all competitions − host Stade Rennais FC in a full programme of fixtures. The second silverware of the season in France will be decided on Saturday, when Paris Saint-Germain FC meet AS Monaco FC in the Coupe de France final.