Marseille move clear despite Rennes stalemate
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Article summary
Jires Ekoko's missed penalty proved costly for visitors Stade Rennais FC as Olympique de Marseille moved a point clear at the top of Ligue 1 following a goalless draw in the clubs' rescheduled game.
Article top media content
Article body
Olympique de Marseille opened a one-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 after they were held to a goalless home draw by Stade Rennais FC in a rescheduled game on Wednesday.
Rennes got off to the best start at Stade Vélodrome but Jires Ekoko missed a penalty in the fifth minute after Steve Mandanda brought down Victor Hugo Montaño. OM's Lucho González failed to take a great chance when missing the target from close range with 17 minutes remaining, while André Ayew's header in added time just shaved Nicolas Douchez's post.
The French champions, who have not conceded a goal in their last four outings in all competitions, have 26 points from 15 games. Rennes are one of three clubs on 24 points in a table in which the top 12 are separated by only five points.
Early pacesetters AS Saint-Étienne are one of that group, moving on to 21 points after drawing 1-1 away to 14th-placed Valenciennes FC. Emmanuel Rivière opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour for Les Verts, who were pegged back by Gaël Danic's 76th-minute goal.
