Rennes goes 5th after 0-0 draw vs Montpellier

PARIS (AP) Rennes moved into fifth place in the French league after securing a 0-0 draw away to a wasteful Montpellier side on Thursday.

Rennes moved ahead of Saint-Etienne on goal difference but was fortunate to get a point as Montpellier missed several scoring chances as it drew for the fifth time in seven games.

Montpellier is in 13th place.

Wingers Anthony Mounier and Remy Cabella went close for Montpellier in the first half.

Mounier created some space for himself on the edge of the penalty area and tried his luck with a powerful shot that went just over, and then Cabella saw his shot well saved by goalkeeper Benoit Costil after running onto a clever pass from Djamel Bakar.

Costil made another smart save to deny Bakar early in the second half and then rushed off his line to dive at the feet of Joris Marveaux after his own poor kick out from goal went straight to the midfielder.

Costil looked beaten in the 75th minute but veteran defender Sylvain Armand blocked defender Yassine Jebbour's angled drive with his thigh and the ball went out for a corner.

Former champion Montpellier had two penalty claims waved away in the closing stages and the jeers rang out at Stade de la Mosson at the final whistle.