Paris St Germain miss chance to go 10 points clear as Auxerre earn goalless draw

Paris St Germain missed the chance to move 10 points clear at the Ligue 1 summit as they were held to a goalless draw at Auxerre.

Luis Enrique’s side failed to take advantage of numerous opportunities as battling hosts dug in to frustrate them at the Stade Abbe Deschamps.

PSG midfielder Vitinha went closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the bar in the second half but the visitors were unable to find away past opposition goalkeeper Donovan Leon.

It was PSG’s second successive draw after their disappointment against lowly Nantes last time out.

They are also three games without a win in all competitions ahead of a crucial Champions League game at RB Salzburg next Tuesday.

PSG controlled most of the play and had the first chances of the evening when Goncalo Ramos twice brought Leon into action.

Fabian Ruiz also saw an attempt blocked before Nuno Mendes tested Leon.

Ramos failed to beat Leon again after getting his head to a Lee Kang-in cross and Bradley Barcola missed the target from a free-kick.

PSG threatened once more when Vitinha whipped a dangerous ball into the box but Ruiz was unable to bring it under control. Lee then shot wide just before the break.

Auxerre, whose best effort in the first half was a blocked shot from Gaetan Perrin, made a stronger start to the second as Jubal shot over. Perrin was also denied again but PSG began to reassert themselves as Ramos brought another save from Leon and Ruiz fired wide.

Lee then drew a save from distance before Achraf Hakimi became the next PSG player to be thwarted by Leon.

Ramos and Ruiz suffered further frustration in front of goal and Vitinha went closest of all when he struck the woodwork.

Having withstood that pressure, Auxerre almost caught PSG with a sucker punch as Hamed Traore and Jubal got efforts in on goal but Gianluigi Donnarumma was equal to them.

PSG made a late push as Vitinha lashed wide from distance.

Ousmane Dembele, introduced just after the hour to enliven the attack, teed up Ruiz but he also shot the wrong side of the post.

A chance opened up for Dembele himself 12 minutes from time but he was unable to beat Leon and then shot wide moments later.

Dembele put in another cross for Randal Kolo Muani in stoppage time but he headed wide and then shot at Leon from a corner.

The final chance came as Dembele played in Desire Doue but again Leon held firm.