Bordeaux in a rut [1-0]

Jocelyn Gourvennec decided to shake things up on his team sheet, fielding a new-look starting eleven: Costil - Sabaly, Toulalan, Jovanovic, Gajic - Vada, Otavio, Plasil - Malcom, Mendy, De Préville. Hosts Stade Rennais went for their usual first-choice side: Koubek - H.Traoré, Bensebaini, Gnagnon, Baal - Bourigeaud, Léa-Siliki, André, Maouassa - Khazri, Mubele.   Bordeaux pushed forward early on, playing high up the field and keeping Rennes off the ball. But after around 10 minutes the hosts managed to create a few chances from set pieces. Unfortunately one of those chances, a powerful free-kick struck by Wahbi Khazri, rebounded off Jérémy Toulalan's head and into his own goal (1-0 Rennes, 11th minute). Bordeaux's first chance came a few minutes later, with a Sabaly-Vada-Malcom movement teeing up Alexandre Mendy for a shot which he sent wide of the post (18’). So far the game was open and entertaining, with both teams playing fast football at the expense of a few technical errors. When the Girondins defence failed to clear the ball properly, Léa Siliki came perilously close to getting a second goal for Rennes  (28’).   As the first half wore on, Bordeaux came to dominate possession. Malcom fired in a strong cross towards the penalty spot, cleared by Rennes (33’). Just before the break, Otavio laid off a decent ball for Vada only to see Koubek snatch it away (42’). Gourvennec made two changes at half time, with Valentin Vada and Jaroslav Plasil making way for François Kamano and Younousse Sankharé. A strong statement of intent from the Bordeaux coach, while an injury forced Rennes boss Christian Gourcuff to replace Bensebaini with the young Gelin. François Kamano got off to a poor start, with a foul on Traoré which saw the latter limp off a few minutes later (55’).   Barely a minute later, Vukasin Jovanovic picked out Alexandre Mendy with a long ball. Mendy's first touch was excellent, but his lobbed shot failed to beat the keeper (56’). Rennes soon responded in kind, with an attack led by former Bordeaux playmaker Khazri (59’). Léa Siliki had another decent shot, this time pushed away for a corner by Benoît Costil (62’). François Kamano's shot was powerful, but well wide (66’). When Cafu came on for Nicolas De Préville, the match was still wide open. Bordeaux kept pushing forward, and Rennes kept on counter-attacking. Tempers began to fray, and the yellow cards piled up. Five Bordeaux players were booked, including Vukasin Jovanovic and Younousse Sankharé who will now miss our next home game against Marseille. With time running out, Malcom stepped up to take a free kick in a promising position. His shot was less than a metre over the bar (86’). Alexandre Mendy squandered one of the best chances of the game, pushing his shot just wide of the post. That elusive equaliser would never come. The Girondins slumped to a narrow defeat in Rennes, a result they may well come to regret. This week is the international break, but Bordeaux's next game on 19th November will be a big day at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE: Olympique de Marseille.