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.

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Saint-Etienne's Jean-Philippe Krasso, left, vies for the ball with Lille's Burak Yilmaz 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

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.
Lille's Amadou Onana goes for a header 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille is three points behind fourth-place Rennes, having played an extra game.
Lille's Jonathan Bamba, left, in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, left, in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)
Lille's Jonathan Bamba, on the ground, falls as in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, on the ground, falls as in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)
Lille's Renato Sanches reacts 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Renato Sanches reacts 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)
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Saint-Etienne's Jean-Philippe Krasso, left, vies for the ball with Lille's Burak Yilmaz 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

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.

Lille's Amadou Onana goes for a header 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

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

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, left, in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, left, in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, on the ground, falls as in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, on the ground, falls as in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Renato Sanches reacts 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Renato Sanches reacts 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

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.

Saint-Etienne's Jean-Philippe Krasso, left, vies for the ball with Lille's Burak Yilmaz 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Saint-Etienne's Jean-Philippe Krasso, left, vies for the ball with Lille's Burak Yilmaz 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

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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Lille's Amadou Onana goes for a header 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Amadou Onana goes for a header 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

 Lille's Jonathan Bamba, left, in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, left, in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

 Lille's Jonathan Bamba, on the ground, falls as in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Jonathan Bamba, on the ground, falls as in action 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)
Lille's Renato Sanches reacts 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)

Lille's Renato Sanches reacts 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 PhotoMichel Spingler)