Friendly: Bordeaux beat Alavès

For this friendly tie with Spanish club Alavès, the Girondins fielded a new-look team without any of the players currently on international duty. In the opening minutes of the game, the visitors pounced on a defensive error to take the lead courtesy of De la Fuente, 1-0 (8'). The Girondins fought back immediately but could not quite find the gap. Yacine Adli tested the keeper with a shot from a tight angle (15'), but Johaneko Louis-Jean was off-target (36') and M'baye Niang's first effort lacked power (40'). Gaëtan Poussin stood firm when tested by the Spaniards' first real attacking movement (23').

There were a few changes at half time, with Fransergio and Tom Lacoux replacing Danylo Ignatenko and Johaneko Louis-Jean. The chances soon started to pile up, with Tom Lacoux firing over the bar (47') and Ricardo Mangas drawing a fine save from the visitors' keeper (52'). Back at the other end, Abdel-Jalil Medioub cleared off the line to keep Bordeaux in the game (56').  

There were more changes to come, as Paul Baysse, Dilane Bakwa and Rémi Oudin came on in place of Javairô Dilrosun, Issouf Sissokho and Junior Mwanga. Alavès keeper Sivera was under constant fire but held firm, saving further attempts from Niang (64') and Bakwa (69'). Finally, with the clock ticking, things began to go Bordeaux's way. M'baye Niang connected with a great cross from Rémi Oudin to score the equalizer (1-1, 79') before Ricardo Mangas latched onto a clever touch from Emeric Depussay (another late sub, alongside Lenny Pirringuel) to score the winning goal (2-1, 87').   The Girondins will be back in Ligue 1 action next week, with an away trip to Lille on Saturday 2 April !