Ligue 1 wrap: Lille settle for point, Toulouse edge Rennes

Lille played out a 0-0 draw for the first time in 46 Ligue 1 matches as they were frustrated at Valenciennes on Sunday.

Visitors Lille went close to scoring early on at the Stade du Hainaut, with Moussa Sow deflecting a Dimitri Payet shot off the post.

But it was the home side who looked the more threatening for long periods.

Indeed, Valenciennes would strike the woodwork on three occasions.

A stunning strike from Renaud Cohade rattled the crossbar, before the outstanding Vincent Aboubakar clipped a solo effort against the post.

In the second half, Gael Danic was the unlucky home player, this time smacking the post, and though Lille dominated the closing stages, they rarely looked like scoring.

Tulio de Melo did pass up a great chance late on, but the home side were fully deserving of a point.

Defending champions Lille do move up to third courtesy of their superior goal difference over Marseille, but they are now six points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

In other matches, 10-man Nice held on for a 1-1 draw at home to Sochaux.

The hosts at Stade Municipal du Ray took the lead on the half-hour mark when Gabon international Eric Mouloungui found the back of the net.

It was Mouloungui’s third goal in his past four starts for the club.

But Sochaux were level five minutes later, as Algerian midfielder Ryad Boudebouz converted a spot-kick.

Nice lost midfielder David Hellebuyck to a red card in the 63rd minute, but they held on to earn a point and move into 16th spot on the table.

Sochaux are three points above Nice in 11th.

Toulouse were similarly defiant after going a man down in their home clash with Stade Rennes, emerging 1-0 winners despite their numerical disadvantage at the Stadium Municipal.

Etienne Didot’s goal in the 27th minute was enough for Alain Casanova’s men to take all three points, despite losing Antoine Devaux to a straight red in the 55th minute.