Monaco held by Montpellier
Paris, Jan. 14: Monaco stuttered to a 0- 0 draw in the absence of Radamel Falcao at Montpellier on Saturday, while Marseille cruised to a victory over Rennes that kept them firmly in the Champions League race.
Colombian striker Falcao was again ruled out by a muscle injury that sidelined him for cup wins over Yzeure and Nice, and Monaco couldn’t break down the league’s meanest defence without their top scorer.
Brazilian left- back Jorge drew an excellent stop from Montpellier goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, who then pulled off a terrific reflex save to deny Kevin N’Doram to preserve a 10th clean season.
The stalemate at the Stade de la Mosson snapped Monaco’s fourmatch winning run in Ligue 1 but sent them a point clear of Lyon in second, while leaving them eight points adrift of leaders Paris SaintGermain.
Christophe Galtier made a winning start in his first league game in charge of Lille after replacing the sacked Marcelo Bielsa just before Christmas.
Nicolas Pepe’s 43rdminute goal handed Lille a 1- 0 victory at Caen and also prompted the dismissal of home goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre after he took umbrage at sheet of the the Ivorian winger’s exuberant celebration.
Florian Thauvin scored his team- leading ninth goal of the season but also missed a penalty as Marseille brushed aside Rennes 3- 0 at Roazhon Park.
Marseille avenged a 3- 1 defeat by Rennes at the Velodrome in September — one of just three losses for Rudi Garcia’s team this season — to move level on 41 points with third- place Lyon.
Nice continued their resurgent form as Pierre Lees- Melou’s deflected strike earned them a 1- 0 home win over Amiens, while a Gaetan Laborde header gave Bordeaux a 1- 0 victory at Troyes.