Saturday 5 March 2016 21:12, UK
Paris Saint-Germain fielded a second-string side and were held 0-0 at home by Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Saturday as they restored a 23-point advantage at the top of the table.
PSG's 36-game unbeaten run ended with a 2-1 loss at Lyon last weekend but Saturday's draw meant Laurent Blanc's runaway leaders re-established their lead over second-place Monaco, who drew 2-2 at Caen on Friday.
"I hope we've saved the goals for next week," Blanc said. "I prefer this scenario than to win with injuries."
Blanc opted to rotate his players for the visit of 14th-placed Montpellier, with an eye on Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second-leg at Chelsea, which PSG lead 2-1.
Despite the changes, PSG looked sharp in the early stages, with Edinson Cavani hitting the woodwork in the third minute after stand-in captain Maxwell's fine cross before forcing Laurent Pionnier into an excellent save moments later.
Angel Di Maria was lively on his return after two weeks out with a thigh injury and went close in the 25th minute when he attempted to score direct from a corner.
Blanc introduced Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier Pastore in the 61st minute as he sought a 24th Ligue 1 win this season but Montpellier held on for a point, ensuring PSG went two league games without a win for the first time since mid-September.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Nice climbed above Caen into third with a 2-1 win over bottom-club Troyes. Valere Germain and Mahamane Traore netting either side of Corentin Jean's equaliser.
Lille rose to 13th as Marcos Lopes and Eder struck in the second half of their 2-0 win over Reims, who saw Antoine Devaux sent off.
Bordeaux were pegged back to a 1-1 draw with Ajaccio in the 89th minute when Mohamed Larbi cancelled out Cheick Diabate's 38th-minute opener from the penalty spot.
Angers and Bastia both played out goalless draws at home to Saint-Etienne and Lorient respectively.
On Sunday, Marseille host Toulouse, Nantes travel to Rennes and Lyon face Guingamp.
