Reigning champions Montpellier have held on for a 1-1 draw with Toulouse on the opening day of Ligue 1 in a match with three red cards.
Souleymane Camara put Montpellier in front in the first half, just five minutes before his team-mate Jamel Saihi was sent off with a straight red card.
Wissam Ben Yedder equalised for the visitors midway through the second half before two Toulouse players were also sent off, however, Montpellier were unable to find a winning goal on Friday.
In the first game of the new Ligue 1 season, Montpellier went ahead in the 34th minute when John Utaka volleyed the ball over the top of Toulouse’s defence to Camara and the Senagalese winger burst into the penalty area before chipping Ali Ahamada in the visitors’ goal.
The home crowd were silenced just five minutes later, however, when Saihi was sent off for a high foot on Pantxi Sirieix of Toulouse.
Montpellier held onto their 1-0 lead until the 72nd minute when Serge Aurier’s deep cross from the right wing was headed home by Ben Yedder.
The momentum shifted immediately, however, when Toulouse substitute Adrien Regattin was sent off in the 73rd minute and then 11 minutes later Aurier was also shown a straight red card.
But Montpellier could not find a winning goal in front of their home crowd with Utaka going closest in injury time.
