Last updated on .From the section European Football

Mbaye Niang

M'Baye Niang's equaliser earned Montpellier a draw as Monaco missed a chance to move level on points with leaders Paris St-Germain.

Layvin Kurzawa finished from James Rodriguez's free-kick to put Monaco ahead just after the interval.

But Niang scored from the rebound after his penalty was saved.

In the first round of games after the winter break, Paris St-Germain can move five points clear in Saturday's game against bottom-of-the-table Ajaccio.

Monaco's Radamel Falcao was given his first start since November following injury but Claudio Ranieri's side, beaten 2-1 at home by Valenciennes before the break, moved ahead when Kurzawa turned in from Rodriguez for his second goal in three games.

But midway through the second half on-loan AC Milan striker Niang turned in from close range after his penalty, awarded for Eric Abidal's challenge on Remy Cabella, was saved.