Lyon’s automatic Champions League qualification bid stalls after a goalless draw with 10-man Le Havre, missing a chance to reclaim third place in Ligue 1.

PARIS: Lyon’s push for automatic Champions League qualification hit another obstacle following a frustrating 0-0 draw away to 10-man Le Havre on Sunday.

The result means Paulo Fonseca’s side missed the opportunity to leapfrog Marseille and reclaim third place in the Ligue 1 standings.

Lyon have now gone four league matches without a victory, slipping to fourth and two points behind their rivals from Marseille.

Their recent struggles were highlighted just two weeks ago when they let a lead slip against Marseille to lose 3-2.

Le Havre played with 10 men for most of the second half after Stephan Zagadou’s sending off.

Despite the numerical advantage, Lyon managed only a single shot on target in a subdued second-half performance.

They now sit just three points clear of fifth-placed Lille in a tightening race for European spots.

Lille moved into fifth position with a 2-1 away win at Rennes, courtesy of goals from Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Hakon Haraldsson.

Elsewhere, Strasbourg’s European hopes were dented by a 0-0 draw with Paris FC, leaving them six points adrift.

Toulouse ended a six-game winless league run with a dramatic 4-3 victory at bottom club Metz, sealed by Mario Sauer’s 99th-minute winner.

 The Sun Malaysia