Saint-Étienne (AFP)
Saint-Etienne and Montpellier split on a parity score (0-0) on Sunday at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, after a lively match of the 14th day of Ligue 1 between two teams that had adopted a similar organization, in 3-5-2.
The Greens, unbeaten in ten matches in all competitions, are ranked 5th but on Thursday in the Europa League, the win, after three draws, will be imperative against the Belgian club of Ghent to maintain the hope of a qualification for the Round of 16
In the league, the St Etienne hold their two steps ahead of the club Héraultais (6th), which has lost, in turn, none of his last five meetings (two wins).
ASSE, deprived of several major players like Mathieu Debuchy, Romain Hamouma, Wahbi Khazri, Gabriel Silva and Yann M'Vila on the bench, once again bet on his young.
And until the end, the Greens sought to snatch the victory, the image of this last shot attempted by the Peruvian Miguel Trauco passing little by side (90).
The team Etienne may however regret to have not made a good time late in the first period to take the advantage.
The Stéphanois even had the opportunity to open the scoring in the second minute by their spearhead, Denis Bouanga, whose attempt was passed close to the post.
The former Nîmes was then dangerous several times (28, 31, 45) while a shot from Arnaud Nordin was diverted to the bar by Argentine goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli (35).
For his part, Montpellier could also score, but Stéphane Ruffier saved his team twice before Gaëtan Laborde at the price of two beautiful parades (25, 76). Ruffier was playing his 304th match with Saint-Etienne, beating the record of Ivan Curkovic, iconic Green goalkeeper in the 1970s.
A recovery of the head of Vitorino Hilton has also passed little by side, at the reception of a corner played by Teji Savanier (19).
The Herault could also have perhaps benefited from a penalty for a foul Timothée Kolodziejczak Andy Delort (51), an action viewed by ASSEC video inconsequential for ASSE.
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