Nantes held to stalemate

Nantes continued their topsy-turvy start to the season as they were held to a goalless draw by Ligue 1 strugglers Bastia at the Stade Armand Cesari on Wednesday night.

The hosts, who have won just one match so far this term - a 1-0 win over Toulouse in Corsica last month - at least managed to keep their second clean sheet as they fended off a penalty and fought on with 10 men for the majority of the match after Yannick Cahuzac saw red five minutes before the break.

The point moved Nantes level on points with fifth-placed Metz, while it meant a leap out of the relegation zone for Bastia, who are now 16th.

Chaker Alhadhur had a good chance to hand the visitors the lead after 12 minutes but his 25-yard effort flew harmlessly over the bar in the only action of note in a quiet opening quarter of an hour.

Just after the half-hour mark, the Canaries pressed forward for the second time as Issa Cissokho burst into the 18-yard box after being released by Lucas Deaux but - from a tight angle - the full-back saw his effort kept out by on-loan Paris St Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

After 39 minutes Nantes were awarded a penalty after N'Koudou was hauled down in the box by Mathieu Peybernes. In the melee Cahuzac was shown a straight red card for being too aggressive towards the referee.

Chaker Alhadhur stepped up to take the spot-kick but Areola stood strong and chose right as he saved the 22-year-old's effort to keep the scores level at the break.

Areola was called upon again midway through the second half as Serge Gakpe found Cissokho on the right side of the penalty box and his pull back found Alejandro Bedoya, but the American international's effort was held out by.

Deep into the second period Bastia midfielder Romaric made a mistake and gifted Yacine Bammou with a shooting opportunity but, not for the first time in the match, the impressive Areola was on hand to keep the away side at bay.

The Blues almost had the chance to steal a win in the dying minutes as Juan Pino got free on the wing and his powerful delivery towards Hervin Ongenda almost caught out visiting keeper Remy Riou - but he made a great reflex save to prevent the 10 men taking the lead as the points were shared.