Marseille 1-1 Montpellier: The hosts miss the opportunity to reduce Paris Saint-Germain’s lead to just four points in the French League

Marseille missed the chance to pressure Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain after in-form Montpellier faced them in a dull 1-1 draw on Friday.

Mathieu Guendouzi’s first-half penalty was all Marseille had to show to dominate both possession and chances, as the visitors maintained their seven-game unbeaten streak since Michel Der Zakarian’s return in February.

The draw for Marseille means that PSG can go nine points ahead on Sunday with a home win over Lyon in their postponed match.

The visitors got off to a better start and Arnaud Nordin fired Montpellier’s lead in the 12th minute, although he had to wait for a VAR check to celebrate after he was initially fouled for offside.

Wahbi Khazri made a good turn to dribble past Guendouzi and set off on a run absorbing four Marseille defenders before playing the ball to Elie Wahi, who sent it straight to Nordin for the French striker’s fifth goal of the league.

Montpellier defender Boubacar Kouyaté had a long treatment break after a collision with the head, as he took off the defender on a stretcher and was replaced by Mamadou Sakho.

Sakho conceded the penalty for a handball – another VAR call – before half-time, with Guendouzi duly equalizing from the penalty spot in the 44th minute to level the hosts on the cusp of half-time.

Marseille continued to shoot more on target, but the biggest chance fell to Khazri midway through the second half when he volleyed his shot wide of the left post.

Marseille coach Igor Theodore sent on Dimitri Payet in the final quarter of the hour but there was no way through Montpellier’s well-organised defence. The Tudors have not won at home in the league since January.

Montpellier, who were just two points from the relegation zone when “Der Zack” bounced back, are 14 points above the drop going into round 29 of matches in Ligue 1.