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Lorient draws 0-0 with Montpellier
Lorient created numerous chances but lacked a cutting edge in a scoreless home draw with Montpellier on Tuesday, the teams' final French league game before the winter break.
Montpellier struggled to keep possession against an attacking Lorient team that couldn't break down the visitors' shaky defense.
It was the fifth straight game that Montpellier had failed to win, leaving the team four points behind leader Lille.
Lille tops the standings on goal difference, level on 31 points with Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes. Lille, which has played two games less than Montpellier and Lorient, hosts Saint-Etienne on Wednesday.
Lorient remained 12th with 25 points.
Lorient's best chance came on the stroke of halftime when striker Kevin Gameiro hit the post with a 16-meter strike from Morgan Amalfitano's through ball.
Amalfitano had previously fluffed a shot from close range after a misunderstanding between Montpellier players Emir Spahic and Abdelhamid El-Kaoutari following a swift counterattack in the 23rd minute.
Striker Kevin Monnet-Paquet went close after connecting with a long ball but lost his balance and missed the target in the 39th.
Lorient continued to dominate in the second half, with unmarked midfielder Jacques-Alayxis Romao firing directly at goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren in the 53rd and Amalfitano dragging his shot wide three minutes later.
Montpellier was reduced to 10 men in the 73rd after defender Mapou Yangambiwa was sent off for a second yellow card.
