Bordeaux back on top after stalemate
PARIS - Girondins Bordeaux reclaimed top spot in Ligue 1 on goal difference with a 0-0 draw at Olympique Marseille on Sunday.
However, the result ended Bordeaux's run of 14 successive wins, including the 11 victories that led them to their first title in 10 years last season.
After four games, the champions, Paris St Germain and Olympique Lyon all have 10 points with promoted Montpellier and Marseille two behind.
The top spot changed three times over the weekend as Lyon grabbed first place on Saturday with a 3-1 home win over AS Nancy before PSG claimed it on Sunday when they beat Lille 3-0.
Midfielder Jeremy Clement set PSG on their way in the 28th minute when he took full advantage of a poor clearance from a corner, controlled the ball on the edge of the area and blasted it into the corner of the net past Ludovic Butelle.
Peguy Luyindula got their second goal 13 minutes from time when Christophe Jallet set him up for a duel with Butelle and he slipped the ball under the goalkeeper's body.
Jallet added to Butelle's misery when he volleyed a Stephane Sessegnon cross between his legs in added time.
"BIT LUCKY"
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Marseille paid tribute to Robert Louis-Dreyfus, their main shareholder who died on July 4, before kick-off at the Stade Velodrome.
The lengthy ceremony meant the players from both teams were slow to find their rhythm.
The best two chances went to Marseille when Brazilian striker Brandao hit the post with a powerful left-foot shot in the 35th minute and midfielder Benoit Cheyrou blasted a half-volley against the bar in the 64th.
Marseille nearly paid the price for missing their chances when Bordeaux's Brazilian midfielder headed into the net from a corner in the 90th minute but his effort was disallowed because of a foul in the area.
"We were a bit lucky. We got a point and we are not unhappy," Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc told television channel Canal Plus.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps added: "It was a game of Champion's League level. We tried to push forward but Bordeaux have a great mastery of the game".
In Sunday's other afternoon game, Valenciennes recorded their first win of the season at Toulouse, beating the Europa League contenders 1-0.
Toulouse are 13th with four points while Valenciennes are 16th on three points.