Continental Europe had the best of Friday's fourball matches to reduce Great Britain and Ireland's lead to one point at the Seve Trophy in France.
Jean Van de Velde's team won three matches and halved one to leave the score at five-and-a-half to four-and-a-half in the Ryder Cup style event.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal were amongst the European point scorers with a 3&2 win.
Mark Foster and Lee Westwood earned Great Britain and Ireland their point.
World number two Westwood was the key to the partnership's 5&3 success over Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari making three birdies and an eagle at the Saint-Nom-la-Breteche course, near Paris.
The only other British and Irish pairing to come away with anything were Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson, who had a chance to win their match on the last hole against Thomas Bjorn and Raphael Jacquelin, but had to settle for half a point after Donaldson missed his birdie putt from two yards.
Jean Van de Velde's team won three matches and halved one to leave the score at five-and-a-half to four-and-a-half in the Ryder Cup style event.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal were amongst the European point scorers with a 3&2 win.
Mark Foster and Lee Westwood earned Great Britain and Ireland their point.
World number two Westwood was the key to the partnership's 5&3 success over Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari making three birdies and an eagle at the Saint-Nom-la-Breteche course, near Paris.
The only other British and Irish pairing to come away with anything were Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson, who had a chance to win their match on the last hole against Thomas Bjorn and Raphael Jacquelin, but had to settle for half a point after Donaldson missed his birdie putt from two yards.
Barring that it was Continental Europe's day, with Peter Hanson and Alexander Noren beating Englishmen Ian Poulter and Robert Rock 5&3 to give them their first point, before Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal beat Darren Clarke and David Horsey 3&2, and Nicolas Colsaerts and Matteo Manassero defeated Ross Fisher and Scott Jamieson by two holes.
"We're still one behind, there's nothing to be happy about," Continental Europe captain Van de Velde told the European Tour website. "I'm going to tell you what I'm very happy with: It is the fact that they delivered today. It's not about winning or about losing. It's about the intensity. It's about what they brought in."
Britain and Ireland captain Paul McGinley said: "As I said to my team yesterday, we felt like we shot 62. Today we feel like we've shot 71.
"The continental team came back strongly against us today. Not unexpectedly. We weren't strong enough or good enough today to hold off the challenge."
Play continues with four greensomes and four foursomes on Saturday (which start from 0735 BST) and 10 singles matches on Sunday, with Continental Europe looking to end a run of five straight Britain and Ireland victories in the biennial competition.
0735 N Colsaerts (Bel) & M Manassero (Ita) v J Donaldson (Wal) & S Dyson (Eng)
0750 P Hanson (Swe) & A Noren (Swe) v D Clarke (NI) & D Horsey (Eng)
0805 T Bjorn (Swe) & R Jacquelin (Fra) v I Poulter (Eng) & R Fisher (Eng)
0820 M A Jimenez (Spa) & P Larrazabal (Spa) v L Westwood (Eng) & S Jamieson (Sco)
"We're still one behind, there's nothing to be happy about," Continental Europe captain Van de Velde told the European Tour website. "I'm going to tell you what I'm very happy with: It is the fact that they delivered today. It's not about winning or about losing. It's about the intensity. It's about what they brought in."
Britain and Ireland captain Paul McGinley said: "As I said to my team yesterday, we felt like we shot 62. Today we feel like we've shot 71.
"The continental team came back strongly against us today. Not unexpectedly. We weren't strong enough or good enough today to hold off the challenge."
Play continues with four greensomes and four foursomes on Saturday (which start from 0735 BST) and 10 singles matches on Sunday, with Continental Europe looking to end a run of five straight Britain and Ireland victories in the biennial competition.
0735 N Colsaerts (Bel) & M Manassero (Ita) v J Donaldson (Wal) & S Dyson (Eng)
0750 P Hanson (Swe) & A Noren (Swe) v D Clarke (NI) & D Horsey (Eng)
0805 T Bjorn (Swe) & R Jacquelin (Fra) v I Poulter (Eng) & R Fisher (Eng)
0820 M A Jimenez (Spa) & P Larrazabal (Spa) v L Westwood (Eng) & S Jamieson (Sco)
