An incredible draw! [3-3]

For their 7th outing of the league season, the Girondins travelled south to face Montpellier HSC. Samuel Kalu (84’), Hwang Ui-Jo (18’) and Junior Onana (29’) all scored for Bordeaux, while Germain (twice: 11’ ; 50’) and Florent Mollet (72’) got the goals for the hosts

Montpellier started brightly, and came close to scoring from an early corner struck by Téji Savanier. Fortunately Edson Mexer was on hand to clear the ball (5’). Junior Onana was soon tearing through the home defence, teeing up Yacine Adli for a shot which the keeper did well to stop. Montpellier immediately went on the counter-attack, with Valère Germain laying the ball off for Stephy Mavididi then calling for it back. Mavididi duly picked out Germain inside the box, and his shot left Benoit Costil with no chance (1-0, 11’). Bordeaux did not let their heads go down, and responded in kind immediately with an absolute rocket from Hwang Ui-Jo - WHAT A GOAL! (1-1, 18’)

The attacks kept coming, and Bordeaux soon won a corner. The Montpellier defence struggled to clear, and Junior Onana pounced with a first-touch shot that almost burst through the back of the net! (1-2, 29’). The Girondins were ahead at the break, for only the second time this season. Montpellier had dominated possession (56-44%), but Bordeaux had the edge in terms of attacking threat and shots on target (3-1).

There were a few changes for Bordaeux at half time, with Samuel Kalu and Fransergio coming on for Javeiro Dilrosun and Junior Onana (46’). The hosts were unchanged. Within a few minutes MHSC had won a free kick in a dangerous position, which Téji Savanier placed onto the waiting head of Valère Germain for Montpellier's second goal (2-2 50’).

The hosts had the wind in their sails now, pushing forward and raining shots into the Girondins' box (68', 83'). All that pressure finally paid off in the form of a 3rd goal, a beautiful left-footed effort from Florent Mollet (3-2, 71'). It was beginning to look like this might not be Bordeaux's night, but the Girondins were not done yet. After a scramble on the edge of the Montpellier box, Samuel Kalu seized upon a speculative clearance and shrugged off two defenders. His left-footed strike left MHSC keeper Omlin with absolutely no chance (3-3, 85').

Montpellier pushed hard for a winner, but this time the Girondins' defence held firm. Stian Gregersen produced a game-saving challenge (87'), and in the dying seconds Benoît Costil pulled off a fine save to deny Sambia (90+2'). The Girondins came away with a point from a hard-fought and often spectacular match, a draw which was anything but dull. Their next challenge is a home clash with Rennes, this Sunday at 1pm, as they seek to keep the positive momentum going and notch up a first win of the season in front of the Bordeaux faithful.