Bordeaux held as OM make their point

Ten-man FC Girondins de Bordeaux conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Olympique de Marseille that nonetheless left them seven points clear in Ligue 1 and on course to repeat last year's title win.

Friends reunited
The match reunited former FIFA World Cup winners Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps in the respective dugouts at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, and it was Blanc who had most reason to be pleased with the opening exchanges. The hosts dominated a tight first period and went ahead on the stroke of half-time, OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda knocking the ball into his own net following an aerial challenge with Marouane Chamakh.

Cheyrou leveller
The visitors pressed higher up the pitch after the break, but it was the expulsion of Marc Planus after 61 minutes that really allowed them back into the match. The defender saw red for bringing down Mamadou Niang on the edge of the area and 20 minutes later Marseille drew level, with Benoît Cheyrou volleying in after being found by Brandão following a Fabrice Abriel free-kick. Deschamps's charges had chances to win the match late on as well, before being forced to settle for a point that lifted them from eighth to fourth.