Lyon coach Remi Garde was content with a draw against Marseille despite Paris Saint-Germain moving four points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
Carlo Ancelotti's side stretched their advantage at the summit after beating Nancy on Saturday and profited further on Sunday night as their two biggest challengers to the league crown drew a blank against each other.
It was an uneventful encounter between the second and third-placed sides although Garde was happy to take a point in the end.
"It was not a very open game between two teams who were desperate not to concede the first goal, especially in the first half," he said at a press conference.
"In our last two games, against Lorient and Brest, we have had to come from behind. It was also important from a psychological viewpoint that we didn't have to be faced with such a handicap again.
"It would have been better had we taken the three points. It was a game against a direct rival and it was also important not to lose.
"We did everything we could and gave everything. It just didn't work. We couldn't break down a well-organised defence, but OM didn't pose us many problems. I have no regrets."
Marseille also lost ground in the race for the title and are now seven points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Coach Elie Baup believes his side are capable of reducing the gap before the end of the season, yet he is also looking over his shoulder, with St Etienne two points behind in fourth.
"There are still 10 games to go and we need to keep going. The spirit we showed here can help us," he said.
"I thought Paris would be well ahead of us and they have a comfortable gap down to the teams below them.
"Further back it is an open battle between several teams. Results elsewhere this weekend show that there are plenty of teams trying to get into Europe."
