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Sanches injured as Lille draws 0-0 at home to Saint-Etienne

March 11, 2022 GMT

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Lille's Xeka, left, Lille's Jonathan David, center, vie for the ball with Saint-Etienne's Harold Moukoudi during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Saint-Etienne at the Stade Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, northern France, Friday, March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

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PARIS (AP) — Defending champion Lille drew 0-0 at home to improving Saint-Etienne in the French league and lost key midfielder Renato Sanches to injury on Friday.

The Portugal international went off midway through the first half with a left thigh injury. He is doubtful for the Champions League match at home to defending champion Chelsea on Wednesday, with Lille trailing 2-0 from the first leg in the round of 16.

It was a fifth league game in a row for Lille without conceding a goal but also a missed opportunity to move closer to fourth place and an automatic Europa League spot.

Lille is three points behind fourth-place Rennes, having played an extra game.

Saint-Etienne coach Pascal Dupraz is continuing the club’s improvement and the draw moved Les Verts up to 16th spot ahead of this weekend’s games.

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