Stade Rennais moved into fifth place in Ligue 1 after securing a 0-0 draw away to a wasteful Montpellier Herault side on Thursday.
Rennes moved ahead of AS Saint-Etienne on goal-difference, but were fortunate to get a point as Montpellier missed several good chances as they drew for a fifth time in seven games.
Montpellier are in 13th place.
Photo: AFP
Wingers Anthony Mounier and Remy Cabella went close for Montpellier in the first half.
Mounier created some space for himself on the edge of the penalty area and tried his luck with a powerful shot that went just over the bar and then Cabella saw his shot well saved by goalkeeper Benoit Costil after running onto a pass from Djamel Bakar.
Costil made another smart save to deny Bakar early in the second half and then rushed off his line to dive at the feet of Joris Marveaux after his own poor kick went straight to the midfielder.
Costil looked beaten in the 75th minute, but veteran defender Sylvain Armand blocked defender Yassine Jebbour’s angled drive with his thigh and the ball went out for a corner.
Montpellier had two penalty claims waved away in the closing stages and the jeers rang out at the Stade de la Mosson at the final whistle.
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