PARIS: French pacesetters Nice dropped valuable points in the Ligue 1 title race after they were held to a goalless draw at home by bottom club Metz on Sunday.

A week after being knocked out of the French Cup, Nice were toothless in the absence of playmaker Younes Belhanda and striker Mario Balotelli, who missed the game through injury and suspension respectively.

The result left them with 45 points from 20 games, three ahead of second-placed Monaco, who can go top of the league on goal difference if they win away at Olympique de Marseille later on Sunday.

Champions Paris St Germain are third on 42 points after new boy Julian Draxler produced a brilliant first-time finish to earn a 1-0 win at Stade Rennais on his Ligue 1 debut on Saturday.

Nice barely threatened in a dull encounter against Metz, who had won only one of their previous 11 league games.

The club’s top scorer Alassane Plea, with 10 Ligue 1 goals so far this campaign, had a poor afternoon and hit the post late on with the best chance of the match.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2017