Corps de texte
Almost 9pm in Bordeaux, and the stadium has been filling up for hours. Over drinks and hot dogs, the Fan Zone is buzzing with match predictions.
After back-to-back victories, the Girondins still have a slim chance of European qualification. Sitting 11th in the league before kick-off, Bordeaux know they have a mountain to climb against the all-star PSG side who have already won the league title with a month to spare. A win tonight would be a major boost for the Girondins.
The omens were good, the home faithful were out in force: the crowd of 41,290 fans made this a record turn-out for the Girondins at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE. An evening of celebration under the banner "Tous Girondins."
Gus Poyet's starting line-up featured the star performers of recent weeks: François Kamano and Martin Braithwaite up front, with Malcom just behind. In midfield, Younousse Sankharé was in for Soualiho Meïté with Jaroslav Plasil the defensive lynchpin at the base of the diamond.
DESIRE
As the teams took to the pitch, dozens of colourful smoke bombs lit up the stadium. The stage was set for an epic clash!
Urged on by the huge crowd, Bordeaux got stuck in right away. Paris weathered the storm, looking solid all the while.
After ten minutes of near-constant pressure, PSG finally got a chance to go forward. Benoît Costil did very well to stop the shot, as the visitors came perilously close to taking the lead at their first attempt (12'). Martin Braithwaite responded with his first shot of the game at the other end, but Areola caught it without too much trouble (13').
After half an hour or so the pace slowed and the game settled into a steady rhythm. The Girondins continued to push forward at every opportunity, but PSG were now dominating possession. Poyet's attacking tactics made for some exciting, flowing football, but required an immense effort from all 11 players.
After two more attacking movements, including a cheeky nutmeg from Malcom, referee Antony Gautier blew up for half time. The Girondins had every reason to be frustrated: the game was entertaining, the attacking movements had been clinical, but they still had nothing to show for it.
ONE LITTLE CHANCE SLIPS PAST...
Cavani kicked off the second half, and it only took two minutes for the Parisians to show that they're not Ligue 1 champions for nothing. Pastore delivered a lovely ball for Cavani, who fired past Costil. The travelling fans erupted but, fortunately for us, the linesman's flag was up. The Girondins had been warned.
Bordeaux kept on pushing forward, and the attitude on show tonight was a pleasure to behold. The fight and drive which have occasionally gone AWOL this season were present in abundance here. PSG, on the other hand, looked pedestrian in comparison. Having already won the title with a month to spare, Unai Emery's side did not look particularly inspired by this evening's encounter.
Gus Poyet could feel the home crowd calling for goals, and with twenty minutes left to play he made two attacking changes: Nicolas De Préville and Soualiho Meïté took to the field.
But the break finally came from the other side, with the combination of surgical precision and apparent nonchalance that only PSG can pull off. In the 76th minute, a poorly-cleared corner fell to Lo Celso who promptly smashed his half-volley past Costil (0-1).
Meanwhile, despite their best efforts, Bordeaux's attacking players simply could not find the net. Lukas Lerager, Nicolas De Préville and Malcom all failed to get the better of Areola.
After one final sweeping attack from the Girondins, Jules Koundé saw his shot stopped on the line. The referee looked at his watch and brought his whistle to his lips: time up for Bordeaux.
A narrow defeat for the Girondins, but a performance of which they can be proud. All that Poyet's side lacked tonight was that little bit of luck which makes the difference on big occasions. The sell-out crowd felt it too, and applauded their heroes off the field.
