Nîmes Olympique 1-1 Montpellier Hérault

THE MATCH

The sides may have been separated by 10 places and 15 points at kick off but the gap between relegation-threatened Nîmes and Europe-chasing Montpellier was much closer once this Derby du Languedoc got underway. Zinedine Ferhat drew a save from visiting 'keeper Jonas Omlin with less than a minute on the clock (1') and Renaud Ripart headed narrowly over the Swiss shot-stopper's crossbar soon after (2'). Montpellier began to settle into their stride, though, with midfield metronome Florent Mollet beginning to dictate play. He perhaps should have let Delort shoot himself after the returning striker had controlled beautifully on the turn in the box, instead of taking it off his toe and firing straight at Omlin's opposite number Baptiste Reynet (18'), but he nearly made amends minute later, forcing the Montpellier No.1 into a rather more impressive save from a free-kick which had looked destined for his bottom corner (20'). Delort - back in the team after missing three games with a muscular injury - nearly scored a Goal of the Season contender, but his dipping shot cannoned back off the bar (23'). At the other end, Sofiane Alakouch volleyed an effort off the post (42') before Hilton cleared a Ferhat chip off the line (44') before the whistle for half-time went with the deadlock, somehow, intact.

Laborde and Delort denied

Gaëtan Laborde and Delort are such a lovely strike partnership; something of a throwback - even if Stephy Mavididi has joined them in the final third in recent months - and the former sent the latter through with a well-weighted pass which he struck on the turn, but Reynet proved equal to his subsequent low shot across goal (52'). The two combined to have the ball in the back of the Nîmes net soon after, Delort laying off Laborde to volley home, but the effort was ruled out with Delort offside in the build-up (56'). Referee Eric Wattellier intervened to deny Delort another goal soon after, this time after consultation with VAR with the Algeria attacker only just beyond Loïck Landre when the ball was played through (58'). Instead it was Nîmes who opened the scoring, against the run of play, with Ferhat squaring for Koné to tap home his fourth goal of the campaign (62'). Montpellier got back onto level terms, though, Delort making it third time lucky when he headed home Mollet's corner for 1-1 (79').

THE PLAYER: Andy Delort

Delort had not featured since the 2-1 win at Olympique Lyonnais in mid-February - a game in which he assisted Téji Savanier's opener - and he might have been forgiven for being off the pace here, but nothing could have been further from the truth. The former Toulouse FC forward's class was evident throughout. With touch and guile like his, Montpellier fans can be confident of him adding to his 10 goals and seven assists in the season run-in.

THE STAT: 7

Montpellier remain undefeated in their last seven Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches. La Paillade haven't tasted defeat in the French top flight since January, when they were edged 2-1 by RC Lens at the Stade de la Mosson, and it might not be safe to bet against them ensuring a return to European football next season after nine years away.