Stalemate in the principality
30/01/2011
Marseille fell to eight points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lille as they were held 0-0 at Monaco, who stand 19th in the table. Defences dominated in the principality in the only goalless draw of Week 21.
AS Monaco FC 0-0 Olympique de Marseille 
Laurent Banide has drawn both league games at the start of his second spell in charge of Monaco and his side ensured Didier Deschamps’ return to the club he coached to the 2004 Champions League final would not end in glory. Marseille dropped two points to top two Lille and Paris Saint-Germain in this round of matches. A win for Monaco would have lifted them out of the bottom three, while OM would have gone into the top three, ahead of Lyon and Rennes, with a maximum haul.
Diarra saved by Ruffier
Mahamadou Diarra made his Monaco debut after joining from Real Madrid and the midfielder almost made the worst possible start to his career in the principality. Marseille forward Loïc Rémy looked favourite to reach an underdone backpass but, fortunately for Diarra, Monaco goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier tore out of his goal and reached the ball first.
Grégory Lacombe proved he was unfazed by making his Monaco debut against the champions by having a crack from range. Both that shot and a subsequent effort from Adriano sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. Nigerian midfielder Lukman Haruna also tried his luck on a couple of occasions as Monaco had more efforts at goal in the opening period than their opponents.
Rémy chances
Adriano blocked a sweetly hit Stéphane Mbia effort and then just before the break Rémy missed OM’s best chance of the half, heading wide from a pinpoint Jordan Ayew cross from the right.
A delightful through ball from Diarra set up Mathieu Coutadeur for the chance of the half. The ex-Le Mans midfielder was one-on-one with Steve Mandanda and the French international goalkeeper won the duel, making himself big.
Defences on top
Marseille sub Charles Kaboré set up Rémy for another chance on the hour but the French international forward was denied by the feet of Ruffier. Andre Ayew then flashed an effort wide as OM looked the more dangerous side.
Moussa Maazou came on for his second Monaco debut, having spent the second half of last season on loan at the club, and the Niger international’s willingness to run the channels was a feature of the chance-free latter stages. OM missed Mathieu Valbuena, injured, and Brandao, suspended.