French Ligue 1: Montpellier 0 Rennes 0

Montpellier's slim hopes of muscling in on a European qualifying place were all but extinguished in a frustrating goalless draw against Rennes.

On 53 points, seventh-placed Montpellier are seven adrift of European qualification with three games to play. Rennes are two places and three points further back.

Rennes had the first chance in the sixth minute when Abdoulaye Doucoure released Pedro Henrique into the penalty area and the Brazilian fired inches wide.

Three minutes later Anthony Mounier could have put the hosts in front at the other end when he was fed by Hilton and also came close to hitting the target.

A timely block by Benoit Costil denied Kevin Berigaud a scoring opportunity in the 18th minute as Rennes continued to hold out and the visitors could have snatched a half-time lead when Paul-Georges Ntep was denied by home keeper Geoffrey Jourdren.

Montpellier continued to push early in the second half, with Doucoure blocking an effort from Bryan Dabo, but Rennes looked increasingly promising on the counter-attack as Ola Toivonen sent Ntep clear to shoot just over the bar.

The home side came closer still 11 minutes before the break when Daniel Congre met a Mounier corner from the right and sent in a powerful header which beat Costil but shaved the outside of the post.

But the hosts' frustrations boiled over in injury time when Hilton fouled Doucoure from behind and was sent off - the first red card for a Montpellier player this season.