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Montpellier miss chance to go second |
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Montpellier passed up the chance to climb to second in the Ligue 1 standings as they were held to a home draw by Paris St Germain.
The point was secured by Marco Estrada, whose 42nd-minute equaliser got his side back on level terms five minutes after Ludovic Giuly had put the capital club ahead.
The result left Montpellier in sixth spot - one place and two points better off than PSG.
The visitors mustered the first real chance after 11 minutes when Guillaume Hoarau met Nene's corner, but his header was saved by home goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren.
PSG stopper Apoula Edel also had to be alert to keep out an Olivier Giroud effort five minutes later.
Giroud soon turned provider, setting Souleymane Camara free, but the Senegalese striker's shot was deflected to safety by defender Clement Chantome.
Younes Belhanda then set up Giroud, but this time the header drifted inches wide of the PSG goal.
The deadlock was broken eight minutes before half-time by former France forward Giuly, who capitalised on sloppy defending by Camara following a Nene free-kick and beat Jourdren from close range.
The hosts looked for an immediate response, Edel saving an Estrada free-kick and then Giroud smashing a stunning left-footed shot against the post from the edge of the box.
And it was not long before they were back on level terms, Estrada slotting home after Edel had pushed away Belhanda's initial effort following fine work by Giroud.
A lively first half drew to close with more goalmouth action, but this time Mevlut Erdinc's far-post volley from Giuly's cross was saved by Jourdren.
The game could have gone either way after the break, but neither team could find a second goal.
Edel blocked from Joris Marveaux and, when Jourdren was beaten at the other end by Chantome's header, Cyril Jeunechamp cleared off the line.
PSG went close to edging ahead for a second time midway through the second half when Hoarau's header hit the post from Giuly's cross.
The visitors created another fine opportunity with three minutes to go, but Mathieu Bodmer managed to fire over the bar from six yards with only the goalkeeper to beat.
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