Cesar thwarts title chasers Bordeaux

Bordeaux squandered two precious points in their bid for the French title when Grenoble’s Bostjan Cesar struck the leveller to hold Laurent Blanc’s side to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Morroccan forward Marouane Chamakh headed Bordeaux, who played all bar the final 20 minutes without key attacker Yohann Gourcuff, into the lead in the 60th minute.

But Cesar struck back with quarter of an hour remaining to leave Bordeaux three points behind seven-time champions Lyon who can extend their advantage with success over bottom club Le Havre on Sunday.

Blanc elected not to start Gourcuff after his exertions for his country in France’s 2-0 midweek friendly loss to Argentina.

Bordeaux, beaten at Marseille’s Velodrome last weekend, could be demoted to third later Saturday if Paris Saint Germain get a result at home against relegation-threatened Saint Etienne.

Elsewhere on Saturday Lille’s hopes of a place in Europe next season took a hit with a 2-0 loss to struggling Auxerre.

Ireneusz Jelen and Kamel Chafni killed off the game within three late first half minutes to leave Lille in seventh spot on 39 points, with Rennes inheriting sixth place thanks to a 1-1 win against Nancy.

The game between Caen and Lorient also ended 1-1, while Mahamae Traore came up with the winner one minute from time in Nice’s 2-1 victory at Le Mans.

Both teams ended up with 10 men after the red carding for fighting of Le Mans’ Gregory Cerdan and Nice’s Loic Remy.

Valenciennes moved up a place to third from the foot of the table with a 1-1 draw against Nantes.

Aside from Lyon, Sunday’s other games see Marseille up the coast to take on Monaco and Toulouse at Sochaux.