Leaders Rennes held at Lens
Sunday, October 17, 2010
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Ligue 1 frontrunners Stade Rennais FC could only draw 0-0 at struggling RC Lens, but that proved enough to increase their lead after second-placed AS Saint-Etienne lost 2-1 at OGC Nice.
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Stade Rennais FC continue to top the Ligue 1 standings despite a goalless draw at struggling RC Lens, their closest rivals AS Saint-Etienne having succumbed 2-1 at OGC Nice.
Rennes rose to the summit for the first time since 1970 before the international break and they will enjoy the view for at least another week after securing a point at second-bottom Lens. Tongo Hamed Doumbia was dismissed for the Brittany outfit five minutes from time, but they came away with a share of the spoils to move two points clear of St-Etienne.
Les Verts made the best of starts in Nice when Dimitri Payet struck his eighth goal in nine outings for the club from an 11th-minute penalty. The visitors lost Gonzalo Bergessio to a red card 11 minutes later, however, and they were undone by second-half efforts from Anthony Mounier and Chaouki Ben Saada.
As for Olympique Lyonnais, they moved further away from the relegation zone by defeating coach Claude Puel's old side LOSC Lille Métropole 3-1. Les Gones lifted themselves to 14th thanks in large part to a pair of Lisandro goals – the second a penalty – and despite Jérémy Pied's 70th-minute dismissal. Also on Sunday, FC Lorient defeated Valenciennes FC 2-1.
