Bordeaux secure crucial away draw [0-0]

Bordeaux started brightly at Gent's Ghelamco Arena, playing a high defensive line and pouncing on the slightest opportunity to push forward. Nicolas De Préville had the first shot on goal (4’), and Gent retaliated in the form of Dompé's wayward effort a few minutes later (6’).  A balanced start from both sides, who were fully aware of just how much was at stake this evening. After 20 minutes of this, the Belgians decided to raise the tempo. Well-drilled and tightly-organised in midfield, they left little space for the Girondins to explore. The rest of the first half was a pretty tense affair, with two sides committed to giving nothing away. The sceond half was much the same, but Bordeaux created two decent chances early on via Zaydou Youssouf and Nicolas De Préville (47’ and 48’). Gent's most promising movement came courtesy of Chakvetadze, who wove through the Bordeaux defence only to smash his shot over Benoît Costil's bar (50’). Gent now began to dominate possession, and came perilously close to scoring from a corner (67’). Five minutes later Awoniyi looked to be through on goal, but despite a beautiful pass from Asare the forward managed to lose control of the ball (72’).  The Belgians were by now well and truly in charge of this game, but Bordeaux put on a heartening defensive display to deny the hosts a precious first-round goal. Benoît Costil made two crucial saves to deny Yaremchuk and Chakvetadze (84’). And when even Costil was beaten, the goalpost stepped in to stop the final shot of the evening and keep the scores even. Bordeaux did suffer one major setback in injury time, when Jules Koundé committed a professional foul which earned him a second yellow card. Next Thursday the stakes will be even higher, but the Girondins will at least be back on home turf - they'll need all the support they can get from the Bordeaux faithful, as they seek to keep their European dream alive and qualify for the group stages of the Europa League!