Nantes 0 - 0 Lyonnais: Lyon waste chance to move into Ligue 1 top three with Nantes stalemate

Posted Wednesday, December 02, 2015 by PA

Lyon missed the chance to climb into the top three of Ligue 1 at goal-shy Nantes.

Victory would have moved Lyon above Angers, who had held earlier held leaders Paris St Germain to a goalless draw, and into the Champions League places.

But Lyon created little and Nantes, who have now failed to score in half of their 16 Ligue 1 matches, had the better openings in a dour 0-0 stalemate.

Both teams were without their first-choice goalkeepers as Nantes custodian Remy Riou was missing with a thigh problem and Lyon's Portugal international Anthony Lopes had a hip injury.

But their understudies Maxime Dupe and Mathieu Gorgelin were well protected and chances were at a premium, with the final pass and shot often lacking in conviction.

Nantes had the better of the first period and Emiliano Sala headed over from six yards when he should have scored.

Lyon's frustration was summed up by a few rash tackles from former Manchester United defender Rafael and the Brazilian was substituted before the half-hour mark after being booked.

The visitors did briefly threaten when skipper Maxime Gonalons struck the crossbar with a header and Dupe blocked Claudio Beauvue's close-range effort.

But Nantes had the better moments after that, with Ermir Lenjani forcing a good save from Gorgelin and Jules Iloki's looping header finding the net only to be ruled out for offside.

Substitute Yacine Bammou almost won it in injury time for Les Canaris, but Nantes have now failed to score in their last three games.