Paris Saint-Germain failed to win for the first time in seven Ligue 1 matches, but their 1-1 draw at Girondins de Bordeaux on Sunday still kept the big-spenders three points clear at the top.
Second-placed Montpellier Herault were also held 1-1 at AS Saint-Etienne, while Olympique Lyonnais were beaten 2-1 at Sochaux-Montbeliard, with improving Olympique de Marseille the only side among the big clubs to register a win with a 2-0 home success over OGC Nice.
PSG took the lead at Bordeaux thanks to Mohamed Sissoko’s header on nine minutes, but the hosts hit back soon after through in-form Yoan Gouffran after good work by impressive leftback Benoit Tremoulinas.
Photo: AFP
The game then petered out, with Bordeaux more than holding their own against the title favorites.
Montpellier had similar trouble breaking down a stout defense after Romanian midfielder Banel Nicolita gave hosts Saint-Etienne a first-half advantage. Joris Marveaux leveled on the hour after a corner.
Fourth-placed Lyon were also playing mid-table opposition in Sochaux, but they lost despite dominating possession for long spells to slip seven points adrift of PSG after 13 games.
Remi Garde’s side went behind to Anthony Reveillere’s 10th-minute own-goal, only for Alexandre Lacazette to equalize for Lyon soon afterwards with a header.
Inspirational Algerian midfielder Ryad Boudebouz’s penalty just before the break after being fouled by Aly Cissokho then handed Sochaux the lead again and the 11th-placed side clung on amid intense pressure.
“If we have to score three goals each time to win, it is going to get complicated,” Garde told reporters after Lyon’s fourth straight away loss in the league. “I think the emotional impact of the derbies against Saint-Etienne, the Champions League clash with Real Madrid and lots of matches with almost always the same players means we lacked a bit of freshness.”
Marseille endured a dreadful start to the campaign, but they shot up to eighth after their third league win in a row, substitute Jordan Ayew heading home on 73 minutes and Loic Remy scoring a penalty in stoppage-time to outwit Nice.
Stade Rennais, whose coach Frederic Antonetti has put his own future in doubt, could only draw 1-1 at home with Valenciennes, but they went fifth after Toulouse surprisingly lost 2-0 at AJ Auxerre.
AS Nancy-Lorriane beat Stade Brestois 29 2-1, Stade Malherbe Caen overcame Dijon FCO 3-0 and Lorient defeated AC Ajaccio 2-0 in Sunday’s other matches.
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