Rennes stay third after stalemate at PSG

Rennes spurned the chance to move to the top of the French first division when they were held to a goalless draw at Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

The visitors came closest in the first half, with Colombian striker Victor Hugo Montano’s powerful shot grazing the crossbar shortly before half-time.

PSG, who secured an impressive 1-0 win at Sevilla in the Europa League on Thursday, enjoyed more of the play in the second period.

Mevlut Erding volleyed wide from close range after a flick-on from his strike partner Guillaume Hoarau in the 57th minute and the hosts also had a penalty appeal turned down following an apparent hand-ball by Kader Mangane.

The draw means Rennes remain in third place, a point behind Toulouse and leaders Saint-Etienne, who are top of the table — on goals scored — for the first time since 1982. PSG move up to ninth.

In the day’s other early kick-off, a last-minute goal from summer signing Moussa Sow earned Lille a 1-0 win at home to Auxerre.

Auxerre, who lost 2-0 at AC Milan in the Champions League in midweek, remain in the bottom three and are without a win this term.

Saint-Etienne went top with a 3-0 victory at home to Montpellier on Saturday, with champions Marseille climbing to eighth on the back of a 3-0 win at bottom club Arles-Avignon.

Lyon travel to Bordeaux in the weekend’s headline game later on Sunday.

It will mark the first time that French international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff has been back to Stade Chaban-Delmas since his 22-million-euro move from Bordeaux to Lyon at the end of August.

“Bordeaux’s finished for me now,” said Gourcuff earlier in the week.

“The fans won’t be happy, they might whistle. But that’s football.”