A well-deserved win [2-0]

A low turn-out, silence on the Virage Sud and an opponent with nothing to lose: there was nothing to suggest that this would be a night to remember for the Girondins. And yet, bursting straight out of the gates with determination and intensity, Bordeaux rapidly took the lead. Out on the right wing, Samuel Kalu picked up a stray cross from Loris Benito. The Nigerion international charged past his man and floated a sublime cross onto the head of Josh Maja for the Girondins' first goal (1-0, 8’). Bordeaux kept up the same high tempo throughout the first half, with Ui-Jo Hwang (4’) and Yacine Adli (11’, 29’) putting Dijon keeper Runarsson through his paces. Aurélien Tchouaméni was on fine form in midfield, and Loris Benito came tantalisingly close to doubling the lead when he headed a cross from Yacine Adli into the woodwork (36’). There was precious little to cheer about on the visitors' side, apart from a few speculative attempts by Cadiz (17’, 38’). Bordeaux were deserved leaders at half time, with the only slight disappointment coming in the form of a yellow card for Otavio which means he will miss Bordeaux-Monaco. The second half was not so positive, with Bordeaux slowing down the pace of play and losing both Yacine Adli (53’) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (67’) to injuries. Nicolas De Préville and Youssef Aït Bennasser took their places. Dijon gradually began to work their way back into the game, with Cadiz firing off a few more warning shots (48’, 73’). The visitors kept getting closer, and Gaëtan Poussin produced two excellent saves to deny Ndong (58’) and Baldé (75’). Dijon's best chance of the game came from a cross by Soumaré, but neither Tavares nor Baldé could make it count. Dijon had had their moment, and Bordeaux wrested back control of the game in the final minutes. Josh Maja (78’) and Ui-Jo Hwang (80’) both came close before Nicolas De Préville finally put the game to bed with a stunning free-kick which lodged itself in the top corner (2-0, 90’+3). Bordeaux bounced back from recent defeats to qualify for the next round of the League Cup. Next up: West coast rivals Nantes, 3pm this Sunday at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE.