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Bordeaux Coach Laurent Blanc Looking Forward To Table-Topping Clash Against Monaco

Blanc has spoken of his surprise at les Monegasques' ascent in Ligue 1 but added that he thinks that they will prove a worthy challenger for his league leading unit...

Oct 31, 2009 9:58:38 AM

Yohann Gourcuff and Laurent Blanc celebrating as Bordeaux become new France champions

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Yohann Gourcuff and Laurent Blanc celebrating as Bordeaux become new France champions

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First meets second in Ligue 1 when Girondins de Bordeaux tussle with Monaco at the Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday evening and home coach Laurent Blanc has showed praise upon his imminent opponents.

Bordeaux top Le Championnat with 22 points, but les Monegasques are only a point further back, having won seven of their opening ten matches. Blanc has argued that Guy Lacombe’s men fully merit their lofty standing.

“I think this Monaco team is surprising,” he told the club’s official website. “They traverse a beautiful period. They deserves the points they have won. It is not by chance that they are now second. So the game is between the first and second [placed side]... This is indeed a shock!”

One of the key elements to Monaco’s success has been Brazilian offensive midfielder Nene, who leads the scoring charts in France with nine strikes. Unsurprisingly, Blanc didn’t play the threat of the former Espanyol loanee down.

“He’s a great player,” the former defender asserted. “His year in Spain was very good for him. Monaco have managed to get him back and they do not regret it. He will be monitored but there are others.

“I expect a tough match against a team full of confidence.”

After tussling with the south coast club, Bordeaux’s attention turns quickly to the Champions League, in which they will meet Bayern Munich in a vital Group A match on Tuesday.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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