Saint-Etienne wasted a chance to move within three points of third-placed Lille in Ligue 1 as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by mid-table Nice on Sunday.
The former French champions were heading for a shock defeat after Mathieu Bodmer put Nice in front just before the hour mark, before a late twist of fate for the visitors.
Nice captain Didier Digard conceded an injury-time penalty and was sent off for a second bookable offence which allowed Max-Alain Gradel to salvage a point for Saint-Etienne from the spot.
The point leaves them five points behind Lille, who won 2-1 at Toulouse on Saturday, while fifth-placed Lyon can move within four points of their arch rivals with victory at third-from-bottom Valenciennes later on Sunday.
Second-placed Monaco host Nantes in the weekend's final match and are just three points above Lille in the battle for the second automatic Champions League spot for next season.
Paris Saint-Germain are comfortable leaders and well on their way to a second straight title after building a 16-point lead, helped by a 3-0 home win over Reims on Saturday.
