Montpellier proved their Ligue 1 title credentials by holding French soccer leaders Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-2 draw on Sunday in the top-of-the-table clash at Parc des Princes.
John Utaka’s header gave Montpellier a 2-1 lead with eight minutes to play but a tap-in from substitute Guillaume Hoarau two minutes from time preserved PSG’s one-point lead over Rene Girard’s side at the summit.
Hoarau’s goal prevented Carlo Ancelotti tasting defeat for the first time as PSG coach, but Montpellier’s surprise title challenge remains firmly on course with 14 games of the season remaining.
Montpellier had been beaten 3-0 in September’s reverse fixture but they began brightly, with PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu saving from Utaka in the ninth minute and then dropping to block Olivier Giroud’s follow-up effort.
Kevin Gameiro stung Geoffrey Jourdren’s gloves with a snapshot at the other end, and then blazed over when clean through, before Brazilian centre-back Alex broke the deadlock in memorable fashion in the 41st minute.
A foul on Nene by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa gave PSG a free-kick 25 metres from goal and, when Nene rolled the ball to Alex, the former Chelsea man thumped a swerving strike inside the right-hand post to claim his first PSG goal.
It was the first goal Montpellier had conceded in 2012 but they replied in first-half injury time, with Younes Belhanda ghosting in to meet Vitorino Hilton’s cross with a downward header that Sirigu could not keep out.
Early in the second period, the visitors led, with Utaka exploiting slack marking from substitute Diego Lugano to plant a free header past Sirigu from Giroud’s cross.
The league summit beckoned for the visitors but, in the 88th minute, Jeremy Menez wriggled into space in the Montpellier box before squaring for Hoarau to claim an equaliser that sent waves of relief rippling around the Parc.
Earlier, Lyon lost precious ground in the race for Champions League qualification after a dismal 1-0 loss at Bordeaux left them three points behind third-placed Lille, who have a game in hand.
Remi Garde’s side won 1-0 at home to APOEL in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, but they were toothless in attack at Stade Chaban-Delmas and were undone by a 41st-minute header from Yoan Gouffran.
Lyon’s defeat – their ninth of the season – left them in fifth place, level on 39 points with Marseille, Rennes and Saint-Etienne, who romped to a 4-0 win at home to Rennes to steam into contention for a Champions League berth.
On Saturday, Lille beat Lorient 1-0 to strengthen the champions’ grip on third place, while fourth-placed Marseille were held 1-1 at home by Valenciennes but they also have a game in hand on Lyon.
