Marseille made the trip to Bastia on Saturday afternoon knowing that they could move to the top of Ligue 1 with a big win.
Les Phoceens were without a win in last three matches, but could move back to the head of the table, while Les Bleus could have jumped level on points with Marseille if they had picked up a victory at Stade Armand Cesari.
However, the two teams couldn't be separated, and were forced to settle for a draw.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good afternoon, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Stade Armand Cesari where we have Ligue 1 action between Bastia and Marseille.
Both these sides have had decent starts to the season. Having made a number of signings during the summer, Bastia are starting to enjoy themselves this year. They brought in Milos Krasic, Ryad Boudebouz and Sebastien Squillaci during the transfer window and go into this match off the back of a frantic finish to a 1-1 draw at Guingamp last weekend.
Other than that, Les Bleus have won twice at home and lost the other two games away, but will be looking to maintain their 100% record at Stade Armand Cesari today. Manager Frederic Hantz has targeted European football this season, and there is no reason as to why they can't go and get it.
Meanwhile, Marseille are currently going through a bit of a poor spell after a scintillating start to the campaign. Les Phoceens had a 100% record until they were beaten at the Stade Velodrome by AS Monaco earlier this month, before following that up with a late draw at Toulouse last weekend. Marseille were also beaten in the Champions League during the week by Arsenal, but they can take heart from a good performance at home.
Let's bring you the team news. Starting with the hosts.
BASTIA XI: Landreau, Diakite, Harek, Modesto, Squillaci, Cahuzac, Khazri, Romaric, Ilan, Keseru, Krasic
Frederic Hantz makes two changes to the team who drew at Guingamp last weekend. Julien Sable and Ryad Boudebouz are both dropped, while Milos Krasic makes his debut for the side, and Romaric come into the team.
BASTIA BENCH: Leca, Cioni, Barbato, Genest, Sable, Boudebouz, Bruno
Not a bad bunch of substitutions available for Hantz, who will be keen for a victory this weekend.
So that's the home team, let's bring you the news from the away dressing room.
MARSEILLE XI: Mandanda, Fanni, Mendes, Morel, N'Koulou, Cheyrou, Romao, Thauvin, Valbuena, A. Ayew, J.Ayew
Marseille manager Elie Baup has made three changes to the team that lost to Arsenal during the week. Gianelli Imbula, Dimitri Payet and Andre-Pierre Gignac all drop out, while Benoit Cheyrou, Florian Thauvin and Jordan Ayew all get the nod to start.
Jordan Ayew will lead the line in attack, while brother Andre and Thauvin occupy the flanks, with Mathieu Valbuena acting as the creative hub in behind.
MARSEILLE BENCH: Samba, Diawara, Mendy, Imbula, Lemina, Gignac, Khalifa
Like his counterpart, Baup has a array of options on the bench should he need to change things up, including Gignac, who has three goals this season. However, Dimitri Payet in out injured and doesn't make the squad.
The match also marks Thauvin's first return to his former club. He will be hoping to impress today.
Kick off has been delayed momentarily as the officials try to clear some flares that the Bastia fans have thrown onto the field.
KICKOFF! The match is underway.
Bastia are wearing their all-blue home strip, while Marseille are sporting their traditional all-white kit with light blue trim.
SAVE! What a superb stop this is from Mandanda. Keseru whips in the cross, and Squillaci is in the box before heading the ball back across the face of goal. It looks as if it is heading into the far corner, but Mandanda makes a terrific reaction stop before the danger is cleared.
Squillaci is receiving treatment at the side of the pitch after a clash of heads, and will come back onto the field sporting a white head bandage wrapped completely around his forehead.
The former Arsenal man has got off to a decent start here today, considering that it was all over the French media this morning that he was considering retirement.
Bastia are playing some nice stuff at the moment, in particular through Krasic. Marseille are yet to really settle.
First time we've seen Thauvin get on the ball, and he receives jeers from his former fans. He skips down the left and chips in a good cross towards the far post towards Jordan Ayew, but the striker's effort is blocked and then goes out for a goal kick.
CLOSE! Now Bastia go close and Keseru brings the ball to the edge of the box before laying off Ilan. However, the striker pings his shot just fractions wide of the target.
We've had a very good start to this match.
CHANCE! It's end-to-end stuff and now Marseille have another chance. Valbuena plays a lovely one-two with Thauvin, before pulling the pass back to Morel. The left-back has a lot of time to pick his spot, but fires his effort over the bar. He was poor against Arsenal during the week.
SAVE AND A PENALTY SHOUT! Now it's Bastia who come forward as Khazri gets in between the centre-backs and powers an effort at goal from the edge of the box. Mandanda can make a great stop, but it looks as if the ball is going to fall into the path of the striker once again. However, Khazri goes down under a challenge of N'Koulou before he can get to the ball and appeals for a penalty. The referee, however, decides to give nothing.
Now Thauvin paces it down the right and flashes a low ball across the face of goal that is just begging to be tapped in. But no Marseille player can get to it.
Now Thauvin paces it down the right and flashes a low ball across the face of goal that is just begging to be tapped in. But no Marseille player can get to it.
This has been such an open game so far. Bastia are attacking well but letting the Ayew brothers and Payet beat their defence far too easily.
Marseille are starting to get on top slightly here as they begin to dictate possession.
Bastia have a free kick about 25 yards out just left of centre. Good chance this.
SAVE! Keseru takes the kick with his left foot and curls it over the wall towards the near top corner. However, Mandanda does his best superman impression, and pushes the ball away with both hands.
Marseille have a free kick on the left of the penalty area and Valbuena is straight over it. Les Phoceens send the big boys forward from the back, but they are not happy when the little playmaker tries to curl the ball in at the near post, only for it to land on the top of the netting. Valbuena should have crossed that.
Both sides have had chances in this first half, and have played some lovely fluid football. But, at the moment, it looks as if the goalkeepers are going to send us into the break goalless.
The referee is having a chat with Krasic who came through the back of Morel, just moments after Valbuena was left in a heap at the side of the field. The clash is becoming feisty now.
Diakite and Thauvin are now in a shoving match after Cahuzac destroys Valbuena, and doesn't even concede a free kick. Tasty stuff.
HALF TIME: Bastia 0-0 Marseille
So goalless at the break despite an entertaining half. Both sides have had chances, but Mandanda and Landreau are on top form so far.
Let's bring you some half-time stats.
Match statistics:
Bastia:
Shots 9
On target 5
Possession 40%
Corners 2
Fouls 8
Marseille:
Shots 5
On target 0
Possession 60%
Corners 2
Fouls 7
The two teams are back out onto the field and it looks as if they are both unchanged.
KICKOFF! Bastia, playing from right to left, get the second half underway.
Thauvin is put through on goal after a lovely pass from Cheyrou, but Landreau wins the race to the ball and hacks the danger clear.
Nasty scenes as Diakite chops through Morel on the touchline. It's a dangerous tackle as the Bastia man jumps in with studs showing and makes connection with the left-backs calf. He got a touch on the ball first, but that was reckless. Luckily, Morel looks ok.
CHANCE! Bastia attack down the right with Krasic, who darts to the byline and pulls the ball back inside the box. It misses the first few men, but Romaric bullets it from outside the area, but it flies high over the bar.
Krasic has been great so far in this match, as Bastia begin to show their attacking intent.
Panic at the back for Bastia as Harek messes up a header back to a stranded Landreau. Ayew tries to get a shot into an empty net, but is held off and blocked before Bastia can scramble it away. Frantic.
MARSEILLE CHANGE Morel is brought off, and replaced by Benjamin Mendy.
It's a more even game at them moment. No real chances in the last few minutes.
BASTIA CHANGE Summer signing Ryad Boudebouz comes on in place of Ilan.
MARSEILLE CHANGE Thauvin's time against his former club is brought to an end as Elie Baup brings on Saber Khalifa in his place.
I wonder how long it will be before Baup introduces Andre-Pierre Gignac. The Frenchman is a presence up front but didn't have the greatest of games against Arsenal during the week.
CHANCE! Valbuena has a corner for Marseille on the right and curls it towards the far post. Lucas Mendes, who is such a threat from these situations, gets his head on it but can't get enough power on them to beat Landreau.
Khalifa is berating the referee for a penalty after being flicked into the box by Ayew. He runs towards goal and goes down after a collision with Modesto. However, the referee gives nothing.
On second inspection, it looks as if Modesto got none of the ball when Khalifa went down. Controversial decision from the referee.
BASTIA CHANGE Milos Krasic comes off to a standing ovation from the home fans, and is replaced by Joseph Barbato.
MARSEILLE CHANGE Jordan Ayew's time is up on the field, and he is swapped for Andre-Pierre Gignac, whose first job will be to attack this free kick.
YELLOW CARD Cahuzac booked for another poor challenge.
Nearly a chance for Marseille as Gignac brings down a cross from the left and touches into the path of Khalifa, but his shot is blocked and Landreau can hold the ball.
BASTIA CHANGE Keseru is taken off, with Gianni Bruno coming on for the home side.
Both sides are going for the winner here, but neither has managed to get a good effort on goal yet.
We'll have four minutes of added time.
Bastia have a free kick just over the halfway line on the left which they are going to pump long into the box. The home crowd gets excited as Landreau races out of his area. They think he is going to join the action, but instead he just barks some instructions.
The free kick comes to nothing.
FULL TIME: Bastia 0-0 Marseille
Well that's that. These sides have to settle for a draw, and in truth, it was a fair result. Both keepers played well, and neither side could take their chances.
Here are the full-time stats.
Match statistics:
Bastia:
Shots 11
On target 5
Possession 39%
Corners 4
Fouls 19
Marseille:
Shots 11
On target 3
Possession 61%
Corners 4
Fouls 11
That's it from me for this match, but make sure you stay will Sports Mole to be involved with the remainder of today's Ligue 1 action.
