OM lose ground after being held by LOSC
Sunday, April 14, 2013
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Olympique de Marseille were only able to pull within nine points of Paris Saint-Germain FC after drawing 0-0 at LOSC Lille, on a day when Olympique Lyonnais returned to winning ways.
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Second-placed Olympique de Marseille failed to keep pace with Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain FC after being held to a 0-0 draw at LOSC Lille, a result that leaves PSG nine points out in front.
The capital side eked out a 1-0 win against ES Troyes AC on Saturday, putting the onus on Élie Baup's men to match them at the Grand Stade Lille Métropole. Instead, it was the home side who came the closest to winning as Ronny Rodelin, Salomon Kalou and Dimitri Payet were all denied by Steve Mandanda in the OM goal.
The French international also needed to be on his toes to deny Payet again in the closing stages, leaving LOSC a point off fourth-placed AS Saint-Étienne in the league's UEFA Europa League slot.
Two points behind Marseille, third-placed Olympique Lyonnais arrested a run of three consecutive defeats by overcoming Toulouse FC 3-1. Clément Grenier put the hosts ahead from close range on just eight minutes and Bakary Koné headed in early in the second half, after Wissam Ben Yedder had levelled for Toulouse.
Bafétimbi Gomis then made the game safe for Lyon, to keep them two points clear of OGC Nice, who beat FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 3-0 to boost their own UEFA Champions League qualification prospects.
