Cabella gives Montpellier victory

Bordeaux missed the chance to move to the top of the Ligue 1 table as Remy Cabella's goal gave Montpellier a 1-0 win.

Bordeaux missed the chance to move to the top of the Ligue 1 table as Remy Cabella's goal midway through the second half gave struggling champions Montpellier a 1-0 victory. The hosts started the game level with Sochaux, who occupied the third relegation spot - but Cabella's goal was just reward for their second-half display and gave them only a fourth win in 14 games, lifting them five places to 12th. Montpellier started brightly and Marco Estrada's 10th-minute inswinging corner struck the Bordeaux post. The visitors responded with Fahid Ben Khalfallah curling a free-kick narrowly wide from 30 yards 12 minutes later, then in the 33rd minute Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa needed to race back to deflect Nicolas Maurice-Belay's shot wide for a corner. Souleymane Camara headed inches wide in the 56th minute from Daniel Congre's cross, then three minutes later Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso denied Cabella after Henrique had lost possession. The decisive breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Cabella controlled Romain Pitau's cross from the left before firing past Carrasso. The Bordeaux goalkeeper prevented his team falling 2-0 behind four minutes later, saving Estrada's well-struck 30-yard free-kick. The visitors were unable to find an equaliser in the closing stages, meaning they suffered their second 1-0 defeat at the Stade de la Mosson in less than a month following the Coupe de Ligue reverse at the same venue on October 31. It also means Bordeaux's five-match winning run in all competition ends, ensuring they remain fourth in the standings - two points behind leaders Paris St Germain.