Olympique Lyonnais missed the opportunity to move further up the Ligue 1 standings after being held to a goalless draw away to Angers SCO, extending their poor run to nine matches without a win in all competitions, with four draws and five defeats.
Lyon had been hoping to make it seven consecutive victories against Angers in this fixture, but struggled to impose themselves during a subdued first half with very few clear-cut chances.
Afonso Moreira had an early opening, but could only direct a blocked effort towards the goal. The only shot on target of the first half arrived midway through the period, when Ainsley Maitland-Niles tested Hervé Koffi, who made a comfortable save.
Angers, who had scored only twice in their previous six matches, also offered little going forward. Their best chance of the half came from a corner, with Jordan Lefort heading over the bar in an otherwise quiet opening 45 minutes.
Lyon began the second half with greater purpose, and came close when Corentin Tolisso found space on the edge of the penalty area and struck towards goal, only for Koffi to respond well and punch the ball away.
Moments later, Pavel Šulc went close from short range, but his effort drifted wide as the visitors continued to search for a breakthrough.
Moreira, one of Lyon’s more lively performers, then cut in from the left and tried his luck, but his attempt flew well off target.
Both sides introduced substitutes in the closing stages, yet neither was able to make the decisive impact as the match ended without goals.
Angers remain 12th in the table, despite having one of the league’s weaker home scoring records, with only 16 goals scored on their own ground this season.
As for Lyon, their continued poor form has seen them fall out of the Champions League places, with the club still searching for a first victory since mid-February.
