Lyon held at Toulouse

Lyon were unable to move level with fourth-placed St Etienne in Ligue 1 as they were held to a goalless draw at Toulouse.

Lyon were unable to move level with fourth-placed St Etienne in Ligue 1 as they were held to a goalless draw at Toulouse. The hosts had the better chances, with Wissam Ben Yedder and Martin Braithwaite both denied by the woodwork in the second half and their more illustrious opponents held largely at arm's length. Maxime Gonalons went close from a corner but Lyon lacked penetration and remained fifth in the standings. La Tefece went close to breaking the deadlock early on when Braithwaite released Ben Yedder through on goal but, with only Anthony Lopes to beat, the Tunisian pulled his shot wide. Oscar Trejo was next to go close for the hosts when he beat Samuel Umtiti before bedning a shot at goal from inside the area but the former Sporting Gijon striker's shot ended up just beyond the far post. Despite Toulouse doing all the early running, Lyon were the first to test either keeper when Jordan Ferri found Jimmy Briand inside the area but his effort was saved by Zacharie Boucher on his own line. With the scores level at the break, Lyon began the second half with more intent and almost broke the deadlock with just five minutes played when Gonalons rose highest from Arnold Mvuemba's corner, but the visitors' captain saw his header shave the right post. Toulouse looked to hit back and Ben Yedder was unlucky not to open the scoring on 65 minutes when his volley on the turn from inside the area came back off the right post with Lopes well beaten as that elusive first goal seemed increasingly unlikely. Ben Yedder was proving to be a thorn in Lyon's side and his 18-yard volley was almost turned goalwards by Etienne Didiot but the ball flirted with Lopes' right post before going wide. With time rapidly running out for both sides it was Toulouse who went agonisingly close to claiming a deserved three points deep into stoppage time. The impressive Ben Yedder was involved yet again and this time his pass released Braithwaite through on goal but, despite beating Lopes, the Denmark international saw his effort come back off the left post before Ben Yedder fired over on the follow-up.