Rennes remain top despite draw at Lens

Rennes held onto top spot in the French first division despite being held to a 0-0 draw at Lens on Sunday, while second-placed Saint-Etienne were unable to capitalise after losing 2-1 at Nice.

A hamstring injury to summer signing Victor Hugo Montano means Rennes are currently without a senior striker and they didn’t threaten until early in the second half, when Lens goalkeeper Vedran Runje saved from Jires Kembo-Ekoko.

Second-bottom Lens procured the clearer chances thereafter, with Toifilou Maoulida and Razak Boukari both unable to convert presentable chances.

Maoulida squandered a golden opportunity by heading wide from six yards after 20 minutes of the second period, while Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez clawed away Boukari’s close-range header with six minutes remaining.

The visitors finished the game with 10 men following the late dismissal of substitute Tongo Hamed Doumbia.

Saint-Etienne forward Dimitri Payet celebrated his first France call-up last week and he put his side 1-0 up in the 11th minute at Nice, tucking home a penalty after he had been felled by Nemanja Pejcinovic.

It was Payet’s eighth goal of the season and he nearly followed it up with a ninth, only for his glancing header to hit the post.

Nice looked in danger of being swamped, but the momentum swung in the hosts’ favour when Gonzalo Bergessio was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge on Eric Mouloungui in the 22nd minute.

The home side drew level early in the second period when Anthony Mounier slammed a beautiful volley into the bottom-right corner from the left-hand edge of the penalty area.

Chaouki Ben Saada put Nice ahead in the 67th minute, beating Jeremie Janot with the aid of a deflection.

It was Saint-Etienne’s first defeat since a 3-1 loss at Paris Saint-Germain on the season’s opening day and allows Rennes to move two points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Later on Sunday, beleaguered Lyon coach Claude Puel leads his side into battle against his former team Lille, as he bids to prove to president Jean-Michel Aulas that he is the man to lead the club forward despite their dreadful start.

PSG climbed to third with an impressive 2-0 victory at Toulouse on Saturday, while defending champions Marseille moved up to fourth after Loic Remy’s first club goal gave them a 1-0 win at home to Nancy.