Montpellier HSC and Caen have had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Ligue 1 this evening.

Hilton's opening goal was cancelled out by Mathieu Duhamel at the Stade Michel d'Ornano.

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The game sprung into life in the opening few minutes and Montpellier could have been ahead had Morgan Sanson kept his head, but he scuffed his effort wide of the target from six yards out.

Lenny Nangis then went up the other end and almost gave Caen the lead with a standout effort from a difficult angle, which was denied only by the reactions of goalkeeper Remi Vercoutre.

It was Montpellier who grabbed the game's opening goal when Anthony Mounier turned in a cross for Hilton, who made no mistake with a header that nestled in the top left corner of goal.

Caen managed to grab their route back into the game in the 41st minute when Duhamel prodded in from close range, after Vercoutre had saved his initial headed attempt.

The second half proved just as exciting as the first and Kevin Berigaud nearly put Montpellier in front, only to be stopped by smart work from Vercoutre.

Caen's Sanson produced a close-range effort that was expertly kept out by a sprawling Laurent Pionnier as things to end in a draw.