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Marseille 1-1 Montpellier: Hosts miss the chance to cut PSG’s lead to just four points in Ligue 1

Marseille 1-1 Montpellier: Hosts miss the chance to cut PSG’s lead to just four points in Ligue 1 after ex-Arsenal star wins a point for Igor Tudor’s side following Arnaud Nordin’s opener for the visitors

  • A draw for Marseille sees them stuck on 60 points, six behind leaders PSG 
  • There was a lengthy stoppage as Boubakar Kouyate received medical attention
  • Alexis Sanchez and Matteo Guendouzi lead Marseille’s Premier League cast-offs 

Montpellier wasted little time in taking the lead inside 12 minutes, after a piece of skill from Wahbi Khazri saw him eluded the grasp of Matteo Guendouzi and launch a counter-attack that saw Arnaud Nordin convert the opener from close range. 

Former Liverpool and Crystal Palace centre-back Mamadou Sakho took to the field midway through the opening period, with Boubakar Kouyate requiring medical assistance.

But the Frenchman quickly turned villain for his side, giving away a penalty in the 44th minute and picking up a booking for handball, with Guendouzi stepping up to convert from 12 yards into the bottom corner. 

Khazri missed a golden opportunity to retake the lead on 65 minutes after firing just wide of Ruben Blanco’s goal after Sead Kolasinac – another ex-Arsenal star at Marseille – was caught in possession. 

As a result, Marseille are now six points off PSG at the top of Ligue 1, with Les Parisiens still holding a game in hand with a chance to extend their ascendancy to nine points.  

Arnaud Nordin opened the scoring for the visitors after a good piece of skill from Wahbi Khazri

Matteo Guendouzi drew the hosts level just before half-time with a well-dispatched penalty

Matteo Guendouzi drew the hosts level just before half-time with a well-dispatched penalty

MATCH FACTS

Marseille (3-4-2-1): Blanco; Rongier, Gigot, Kolasinac; Clauss (Kabore 76′), Guendouzi (Mbemba 59′), Veretout, Tavares; Maolinovskyi (Payet 76′), Oliveira (Under 59′), Sanchez

Subs: Ngapandouetnbu, Bailly, Lopez, Mughe, Elmaz

Booked: Veretout, Gigot

Goals: Guendouzi pen 44′ 

Manager: Igor Tudor 

Montpellier (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Sacko (Tchato 45′), Jullien, Kouyate (Sakho 22′), Sylla; Chotard, Leroy (Fayad 76′); Nordin (Mavididi 61′), Savanier, Khazri; Wahi (Germain 81′)

Subs: Mendes, Tamas, Bongemba, Kamara

Booked: Sakho, Germain

Goals: Nordin 12′

Manager: Michel der Zakarian 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk