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Girondins de Bordeaux 1-0 Grenoble Foot38: Unconvincing Champions Take Three Points

A rare Ligue 1 start for Yoan Gouffran saw him become les Girondins' match-winner against stubborn GF38...

Sep 12, 2009 10:52:21 PM

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Ligue 1 : Yoan Gouffran (Bordeaux)

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It may have been a clash of the league’s top versus bottom at the start of the day, but this was no walkover.

A narrow 1-0 victory for Ligue 1 champions Girondins de Bordeaux over Grenoble on Saturday night certainly did not showcase France’s best at the peak of their powers.

For much of the game Laurent Blanc’s men were lacking in penetration, though Yoan Gouffran’s goal midway through the first period ensured that the hosts were never really chasing the game.

Over the course of the last season, Grenoble have specialised in making life difficult for every side they have come up against. Although they have been somewhat less successful in the opening weeks of this campaign than they were on the whole last season, they frustrated Bordeaux greatly in the first half, reducing their opponents to only a couple of shots on goal.

Indeed, les Girondins would take 17 minutes to first find a way through the tenacious defence, but as Bordeaux have been so often this season, they were utterly clinical. Marouane Chamakh, who would not have the influence on the encounter he would’ve liked, flicked a header down to Jaroslav Plasil, whose clever pass to Yoan Gouffran allowed the former Caen man to finish with a measured side-footed shot.

The home side would create only a handful of truly favourable situations in the first half, with Yoann Gourcuff denied by some smart tracking back by former Olympique Lyonnais defender Sandy Paillot after GF38’s offside trap had been sprung following a free kick.

Jody Viviani in the visiting goal gave the home fans a rare moment of excitement when he fumbled a routine cross, but he quickly gathered the loose ball before any damage could be done, while a rising Gourcuff strike prior to the break also gave the champions further encouragement.

At times this season Grenoble have faded completely out of matches, but this was certainly not the case at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, where they retained a strong vested interest in the game. Nevertheless, a goal never looked a probability, though Laurent Batlles will rue his inability to place the ball further wide of Cedric Carrasso in the home goal when he took aim from the edge of the area.

Unexpectedly the visiting side were presented with a wonderful chance to equalise in first half stoppage time. Batlles’ free-kick was misjudged by Carrasso, who saw the ball sail over his head to Nicolas Dieuze at the edge of the six-yard box. Evidently taken by surprise by the gift, the holding midfielder contrived to put the simple chance wide of the target.

Three minutes after the break came a moment entirely out of keeping with the pedestrian fare that had preceded it as Frank Jurietti’s chipped centre was scissor kicked narrowly wide by Gouffran, who was lurking at the edge of the box.

As Gourcuff began to find his true range with his passing, aided by his increased ability to move into effective spaces, Bordeaux began to dominate their opponents and create favourable situations with increased frequency. They remained vulnerable, but looked likelier to find the net, with a Gourcuff cross headed wide by Chamakh before the French international’s volley from just outside the box trundled wide.

The flow of half chances continued, Wendel floating a free kick harmlessly over the bar, while Chamakh again rose impressively to head goalwards, but again his radar was off.

Little had been offered from the red-clad visitors in an attacking sense during the second half, but a strong break down the left from Danijel Ljuboja reminded the hosts that their one-goal lead was fragile. Thankfully for Bordeaux, the forward’s centre was woeful.

Les Girondins were somewhat more fortunate to get away with a strong penalty claim from their guests when the ball struck Marc Planus’ hand in the box, especially when referee Ennjimi awarded Bordeaux a free kick in a dangerous area at the other end of the park for a similar offence only minutes later.

Stoppage time brought with it one final opening for the visiting side. Ljuboja produced a good break down the left once again and picked out Nassim Akrour, but the substitute had a shot blocked. Moments later, Carrasso bravely blocked at the feet of Dieuze as Bordeaux’s unconvincing evening ended on a nervous note.

It was a game in keeping with the rest of the Ligue 1 action on Saturday evening: tight and somewhat tentative. However, Bordeaux have moved back to the summit of the table courtesy of this success and can prepare for their Champions League match against Juventus with clear minds. Grenoble remain rooted to the foot of the table and have yet to find their first point.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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