Lille have suffered a blow in their quest to finish in the top three in Ligue 1 this season as they were held to a goalless draw by Montpellier away from home.

The hosts made a brighter start to the match and had a couple of chances in the opening 10 minutes, but Daniel Congre and Younes Belhanda failed to keep their respective attempts on target.

Belhanda was unlucky not to put Montpellier in the lead in the 21st minute when he headed Remy Cabella's free kick against the crossbar from close range.

However, Lille soon found their rhythm and tested the Montpellier defence through Salomon Kalou and Florent Balmont in the final 10 minutes of the first half, before Marco Estrada squandered his chances for the hosts.

Montpellier began the second half on the front foot, as Belhanda and Souleymane Camara made attempts on the Lille goal, before Balmont came close for the visitors.

Emanuel Herrera had two chances in a minute after the hour mark just after Lille's Lucas Digne had tried to get the better of Geoffrey Jourdren with a long-range effort.

Lille finished the contest with 10 men as Benoit Pedretti was given his marching orders in injury time.