LOSC kept at bay by Nantes, strugglers triumph
Saturday, March 15, 2014
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LOSC Lille missed the chance to close within four points of second spot as they were held on a day that witnessed a couple of big victories for Ligue 1's backmarkers.
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LOSC Lille could not find a way past FC Nantes on a day that brought victories for relegation-threatened Valenciennes FC and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.
The goalless draw in Saturday's early kick-off left René Girard's LOSC – now seven matches unbeaten in all competitions – six points shy of second-placed AS Monaco FC. AS Saint-Étienne could close to within two points of LOSC with victory at Paris Saint-Germain in a mouth-watering programme on Sunday, when Monaco host Olympique Lyonnais.
Lyon go into the game in fifth after the teams just below them, Olympique de Marseille and Stade de Reims, drew 1-1 on Friday. Toulouse FC are also lurking after they posted a third straight league win on Saturday by overcoming Stade Rennais FC 3-2. OGC Nice triumphed 2-0 at home to SC Bastia, who lost Yannick Cahuzac to a 40th-minute red card.
At the wrong end of the table, third-from-bottom Valenciennes stung Évian Thonon Gaillard FC 1-0 to move within two points of their opponents, and there was also joy for the team just below them as Sochaux eased past FC Lorient 2-0. There was no such relief for AC Ajaccio, though, as they suffered a 1-0 home defeat by EA Guingamp that leaves them ten points adrift.