Bore draw in Nantes

Nantes and Bordeaux battled out an uninspiring 0-0 draw at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Ligue 1 on Saturday evening.

Nantes and Bordeaux battled out an uninspiring 0-0 draw at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Ligue 1 on Saturday evening. Having clinched their first victory since January 11 last weekend with a 1-0 triumph over Montpellier, 13th-placed Nantes were looking to pull further clear of the relegation zone with three points against Francis Gillot's side. But Les Girondins, still with an outside chance of securing a Europa League berth despite currently trailing fourth-placed St Etienne by eight points, clung on for a draw. The hosts mustered the first chance inside two minutes when Itay Shechter won possession from Henrique and freed Alejandro Bedoya, but his low cross-shot fizzed inches wide. Serge Gakpe was next to have a sight of Cedric Carrasso's goal as he despatched a curling 30-yard free-kick, only to see the Bordeaux goalkeeper get his body in the way. Not to be outdone, Maxime Dupe made a solid save midway at the other end midway through the first half to keep out Henri Saivet's free-kick. Nantes were creating the lion's share of the opportunities, though, and should have gone in at half-time ahead but Bedoya came off second best in a one-on-one duel with Carrasso after being put through by Lucas Deaux. Carrasso continued to frustrate the home team after the interval, brilliantly clearing off the line after Gakpe's free-kick had taken a wicked deflection off defender Lucas Orban. Koffi Djidji should have put Nantes ahead eight minutes into the second half but could only direct his header narrowly wide from a Banel Nicolita free-kick. Bordeaux were not offering much up front, Guillame Hoarau sending a volley over the bar from their only real chance of the second period. Nantes continued to push for a winner in the closing stages but could find no way past Carrasso, the keeper blocking a Deaux header from Shechter's left-wing cross late on to preserve his side's point.