Nancy and Metz battled out a evenly balanced and typically hard-fought 1-1 draw in Saturday's Lorraine derby.

Meeting for the first time in five years, it was the hosts Nancy that made the perfect start after just 45 seconds of play when central defender André-Luiz Silva played a neat one-two with Eli Kroupi before beating opposition 'keeper Grégory Wimbée with an outside of the right-foot finish.

In an evenly-match first half it was the visitors that controlled the ball, but the hosts that carved out the more inviting chances. Sébastien Puygrenier saw his header ruled out for a foul on Medhi Meniri after 24 minutes before Uruguayan Adrian Sarkisian was unable to finish off some brilliant work wide on the right from the Brazilian Kim 10 minutes later.

After the break Metz continued to lay siege to Gennaro Bracilgliano's goal and were ultimately rewarded 15 minutes from full-time when Sébastien Renouard equalised from just inside the area after good lead-up work from Maman Chérif-Touré.

The draw changes little for either side with both still rooted to the relegation zone with four points each from their opening seven games.

Nancy: Bracigliano (cap) - Chrétien, André-Luiz Silva, Diakhaté, Puygrenier, Biancalani - Bérenguer, B. Gavanon, Sarkisian (Brison 46) - Kim (Curbelo 66), Kroupi

Metz: Wimbée - Béria, Méniri, Borbiconi, Bassong - Morisot, Huszti (Chérif Touré 68), Renouard (Agouazi 80), Proment (cap) - Mom. Ndiaye, Gueye (Ma. Zewlakow 66)

Ref: B. Coué