Monaco lost potential ground on leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Friday and extended their winless streak to three games as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to lower table Evian.
Following their League Cup exit against Reims and a defeat away to Lille last week in Ligue 1, Claudio Ranieri's expensively assembled side now find themselves two points back of PSG, who have a game in hand.
Evian took a shock 20th-minute lead after a long ball forward from Danish 'keeper Jesper Hansen was flicked into the path of his compatriot Daniel Wass who held off his marker to plant the ball past Croatian 'keeper Danijel Subasic.
The central eastern club, who were only founded in 2007 after FC Gaillard and CS Thonon merged, came into the match on the back of a three-game winning streak but lost their concentration shortly after seizing the advantage.
Colombian Radamel Falcao poached his ninth goal of the season on 27 minutes to move joint level at the top of Ligue 1 scoring charts with Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani.
Fellow Colombian James Rodriguez, who signed in the off-season from Porto, was at the heart of the move as he set up the shot for the former Atletico Madrid marksman to fire past Hansen.
"We're a bit disappointed because we had some chances to win the match but it's a good point for us and we're on a good run at the moment," said Evian's French midfielder Olivier Sorlin.
"A draw against a team like this isn't too bad and we're happy."
Leaders PSG are in action on Saturday as they put their unbeaten record on the line at home against Nice while second-placed Lille travel to Brittany for an evening clash against ninth-placed Guingamp.
Marseille return from their 3-2 Champions League reverse at Napoli in midweek and a must-win match at home to Herve Renard's basement dwellers Sochaux at the Velodrome.
Former champions Bordeaux and Nantes meet at the Chaban-Delmas stadium also on Sunday while Saint-Etienne host bitter local rivals Lyon in the final match of the weekend.
Source: AFP
