French Ligue 1

Valenciennes 0-0 Toulouse

Toulouse had to settle for a point after failing to break down Valenciennes in a bore draw.

While the visitors largely dominated the clash - particularly in the second half - it was Valenciennes who went closest with Carlos Sanchez twice narrowly missing the target.

For all their industry, the closest Toulouse came to scoring was on-loan midfielder Adil Hermach's fizzing volley which also went agonisingly wide, while Franck Tabanou saw an acrobatic effort well saved.

A point has not done much for either side's very slim prospects of reaching the European places, with 11th-placed Valenciennes one point and spot better off than tonight's opponents.

Les Atheniens had the first opportunity of the match, with Sanchez firing just wide after being sent clear by Gregory Pujol.

Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue saw his header comfortably saved by Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau, who was beaten by Franck Tabanou's effort but which went wide of the post.

At the other end, Sanchez came closest to breaking the deadlock but, after combining with Remi Gomis in the area, could only hit wide.

It was all the visitors after the interval, with Hermach, on loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal FC, volleying inches wide of the target from 20 yards.

Tabanou went close but his overhead kick from Etienne Didot's cross was well saved by Penneteau, who turned away another fizzing long distance strike from Hermach.

Hermach's fellow Moroccan Adrien Regattin superbly dribbled into the area, but he was also denied by Penneteau as the spoils were shared.