Paris (AFP) – Nice survived the first-half dismissal of captain Dante and Walter Benitez saved a dreadful Panenka penalty in a 0-0 draw at Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
The 38-year-old Brazilian was sent off for the second time in three games following a foul on Elye Wahi in the Nice penalty area 10 minutes before half-time.
Teji Savanier attempted to chip his spot-kick down the middle but saw his effort easily held by Benitez, who kept a fourth successive clean sheet for a Nice team with the league’s best defence.
Montpellier’s Valere Germain hit the post against his former club to leave the hosts with just two wins in their past nine games, a run which has destroyed their European prospects.
Christophe Galtier’s side are three points clear of Marseille in the race for the second automatic Champions League spot. OM will try to end a three-match winless run Sunday at Brest.
