Corps de texte
This afternoon at the Matmut Atlantique the Girondins played host to OGC Nice, direct rivals for the European qualifying spots. The objective was simple: to win, to get those three points and to send a message to the competition.
No luck for the Girondins…
The Girondins started brightly, but luck did not go their way in front of goal. François Kamano delivered a superb cross which Nicolas de Préville narrowly missed, leaving Soualiho Meïté free to rattle a shot off the woodwork! Martin Braithwaite collected the rebound, but Benitez had it covered (11’). The same scenario was played out again a few minutes later: François Kamano floated in another cross, and this time Nicolas De Préville connected and blased a powerful shot straight into the post (14’)! Nice were under pressure here, but did create one chance on the counter-attack courtesy of Pléa (9’).
Keeping up the pressure
After these early missed opportunities, the game settled down and Nice began to see a bit more of the ball. But Bordeaux were clearly the better side, and François Kamano was on particularly strong form. The Girondins created a series of tricky situations for the visitors, but Nicolas de Préville's darting run came to nothing (25’) and Jaroslav Plasil's free kick missed Paul Baysse's head by a whisker (27’).
Nice threaten
Clear-cut chances were thin on the ground as half-time approached, but both sides continued to work hard in midfield and push forward at every opportunity. Pléa narrowly missed a good delivery from Lees-Melou (31’). Bordeaux had most of the possession and plenty of attacking intention, but lacked that killer touch in the final third. Goalless at half time, then, but the Girondins deserved to be ahead.
Clear domination
The second half got off to a slower start, but the Girondins still looked the sharper of the two sides. There were a few shots on target, but Nice keeper Benitez was on solid form this afternoon. Nicolas De Préville came close twice (49’, 56’). Maxime Poundjé and Martin Braithwaite followed suit (52’, 60’). But for all their dominance, Bordeaux had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
Bordeaux keep pushing on
But Bordeaux kept on pushing forward. Gus Poyet sent on Gaëtan Laborde for Martin Braithwaite (61’), just before Nicolas De Préville had yet another excellent shot stopped by the imperious Benitez (65’). Nice had their moments, but the Girondins were clearly operating on a different level this afternoon.
The post again! And again!
Valentin Vada came on for François Kamano in the last 15 minutes, as Bordeaux continued to lay siege to the visitors' goal. But the home fans almost had a nasty surprise when Pablo deflected a free kick by Lees-Melou towards his own goal… fortunately Nicolas de Préville was there to clear it off the line! (79’) Bordeaux were soon back on the attack. Youssouf Sabaly retrieved the ball in midfield and picked out Gaëtan Laborde, whose shot flew a few centimetres wide of the post (82’). Bordeaux were giving their all, winning every ball, taking every chance… but all they had to show for it was another shot against the post! Valentin Vada provided the cross, Paul Baysse's shot left Benitez stranded but that post kept the ball out yet again (90’). Barely a minute later Nicolas De Préville ricocheted one last shot off the crossbar!
Luck was clearly not on the Girondins' side this afternoon: four shots off the woodwork, no goals, just one point. Bordeaux deserved so much more from this game...
