Nantes have held AS Monaco to a goalless score at half time in their Ligue 1 clash at Stade de la Beaujoire.

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Both French outfits cancelled each other in what proved an insipid opening 45 minutes, with Emmanuel Riviere, in particular, emerging as the most likely candidate to open the scoring.

Joao Moutinho fashioned the game's first chance, crossing for Riviere - restored to the starting lineup for the first time in two months - but the 23-year-old headed over from close range.

The Frenchman was then thwarted in his attempts to break the deadlock by les Canaris goalkeeper Remy Riou, who denied Riviere's clever flick.

Les Rouge et Blanc grew stronger as the half aged but Claudio Ranieri's men ran out of time and failed to secure a half-time lead over Michel Der Zakarian's charges.