Ligue 1: St Etienne's Champions League bid stalls in Bordeaux draw

PARIS - St Etienne's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League suffered a blow when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to mid-table Girondins Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Friday (Saturday, PHL time). Les Verts stayed in fourth place on 59 points with three games left, one point behind arch-rivals Olympique Lyon, who visit relegation-threatened Nancy on Sunday. The top two teams in Ligue 1 qualify directly for the Champions League group stage while the third-placed side go into the third qualifying round. St Etienne dominated Friday's (Saturday, PHL time) match with their Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang again missing several chances in a lively game at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium. Bordeaux's defense held firm under pressure and the visitors' only chance came in the 73rd minute when Julien Faubert's 20-meter strike went over Stephane Ruffier's bar. Bordeaux remain eighth on 49 points. On Saturday, second-placed Olympique Marseille host Bastia knowing a win will delay Paris St Germain's capture of the title with the league leaders hosting Valenciennes on Sunday (Monday, PHL time). - Reuters