Valenciennes remain in the Ligue 1 relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw by Guingamp at Stade du Hainaut on Saturday night.

Tongo Doumbia had put the hosts ahead in the first half, but Younousse Sankhare levelled the score after the break to ensure that both sides settled for a point.

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The hosts went in front in the 17th minute after winning a free kick on the left five yards from the edge of the penalty area.

Maor Melikson curled the ball into the near side of the box, where Gary Kagelmacher flicked it on for Doumbia to head home at the far post.

Valenciennes nearly doubled their lead midway through the first period, but Jean-Christophe Bahebeck fired just wide across the face of goal from inside the box.

Guingamp had two good chances to go into the break level. First Steeven Langil skied a shot from outside the box high over the bar following good build-up play by Moustapha Diallo, and then Sankhare received the ball on the edge of the area from a corner he could not keep his shot down.

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However, Guingamp did find a leveller with 19 minutes to go. Sankhare pounced onto a headed flick-on into the box before striking the ball on the half-volley through the legs of Nicolas Penneteau.

The draw moves Guingamp up to ninth in Ligue 1, while Valenciennes remain in the relegation zone but are now four points adrift of 17th.