Monaco frustrated as Wenger boys tie in Ligue 1

PARIS: The formation of Thierry Henry in Monaco brought to four the number of draws in Ligue 1 and drew 1-1 against Patrick Vieira's Nice on Wednesday, while the two former big players of the Arsenal group fought in canoe.

Former France internationals Henry and Vieira played 313 games together at Arsenal, under the orders of former Premier League boss Arsene Wenger, and with Les Bleus, but their loyalty was set aside while Monaco won their first league victory since 4 December.

The result allowed Monaco to return to second place with 15 points in 20 games. Nice, who played in the second half with 10 men following Ihsan Sacko's red card, stayed sixth with 30 points.

Olympique Lyonnais came closer to Lille, second, while Nabil Fekir's attack allowed his team to win a 2-2 draw in Toulouse at one of the five remaining matches.

The star, however, was the 1998 World Cup winners, Henry and Vieira.

Henry had to do without Cesc Fabregas because the Spanish midfielder, who had joined the club last week from Chelsea, was not qualified to play when the match was originally scheduled.

Allan Saint Maximin gave the visitors the advantage with a low shot coming out of the box after Jemerson went lightly.

Benoit Badiashile led the match from a Rony Lopes corner. Monaco dominated as a result of Sacko's exclusion at halftime.

Lyon was 2-0 down in Toulouse after a Jimmy Durmaz double, but Moussa Dembele reduced the gap to 75th place and his substitute equalized Fekir on a perfectly free-kick in the 87th minute.

Lyon is third with 34 points, three behind Lille and the leader of Paris St Germain with 50 points and two games less. St Etienne will face Olympique Marseille later Wednesday (2000GMT).

(Edited by Toby Davis)