French Ligue 1: Nice 1 Caen 1

Caen put a second point between themselves and the Ligue 1 relegation zone after a 1-1 draw with Nice.

Patrice Garande's side began the day a point ahead of Evian and received a pre-match boost when the latter lost 2-0 at title-chasing Lyon.

Things looked set to get better still when Nicolas Benezet gave them a 16th-minute lead, but Carlos Eduardo equalised before half-time and there was no further scoring.

Benezet went close when he exchanged passes with Bengali Koita, dribbled past Gregoire Puel and saw a shot deflected behind for a corner by defender Mathieu Bodmer.

But he made the breakthrough soon afterwards when he was freed by Koita's through-ball and deftly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Mouez Hassen.

Eduardo volleyed Alassane Plea's cross just wide on the half-hour but he too would go one better with his next opportunity.

Didier Digard dispossessed Nicolas Seube and sent Eric Bautheac away down the left and from his cross, Plea nodded the ball to Eduardo who finished the well-worked move.

Nice's momentum continued early in the second half and Alexy Bosetti set up Bautheac for a shot that was turned behind by keeper Remi Vercoutre.

Both teams went close around the hour mark, Sloan Privat heading just over for Caen and Digard going similarly close at the other end with a left-foot drive after again winning possession in a dangerous area.

Hassen dived full-length to keep out Koita's cross-shot and the home keeper again preserved a point for his side in the last minute, denying Ngolo Kante after he had been gifted possession by the Nice defence.