Marseille slips up in Ligue 1 title race, blows late lead, draws Reims

PARIS (AP) — Marseille's title challenge took another stumble as it conceded a last-minute goal in a 2-2 home draw with Rennes and missed the chance to go

PARIS (AP) — Marseille's title challenge took another stumble as it conceded a last-minute goal in a 2-2 home draw with Rennes and missed the chance to go provisionally top of the league on Friday.

Marseille's form has slumped in recent weeks, with only three wins in the past eight league games, and two-time defending champion Paris Saint-Germain can move above its bitter rival if it beats Caen at home on Saturday.

"It's an important moment for us tonight, it's a setback and we should reproach ourselves for wasting this opportunity," said Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa, who lamented his team's finishing. "We're unable to take our chances when we got into dangerous positions."

Things started badly for Marseille as striker Nicolas de Preville put Reims ahead in the sixth minute, and he could have made it 2-0 early in the second half but shot just wide.

After Dimitri Payet equalized in the 58th, fellow winger Andre Ayew pounced from close range after Reims failed to properly deal with Payet's corner.

But former Liverpool forward David Ngog netted in the 90th with a glancing header from strike partner Gaetan Charbonnier's cross.

Marseille is unbeaten at Stade Velodrome since losing its first home game on Aug. 17.

This strong home form is keeping the title challenge going despite its dreadful away form: Marseille has not won any of its past seven league games on the road.

"There are still points to play for in this league," Marseille defender Rod Fanni said. "But it's true that we have a lot of regrets."

Lyon, which hopes to have 21-goal scorer Alexandre Lacazette back from injury, is away to struggling Lorient on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, PSG coach Laurent Blanc has to decide whether to rest key players ahead of Tuesday's home game against Premier League leader Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League.