Almost the end of the road [0-0]

Two hours before kick-off, the tension was palpable at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE. The Girondins were roundly booed and heckled by their own supporters as they warmed up. That poisonous atmosphere endured for most of the evening, with the Ultras unfurling a banner declaring the current team to be "A disgrace to our 140 year history!"

In these inauspicious circumstances, the game got off to a timid start. Bordeaux dominated the early possession, but the visitors had the better chances. Moffi (3’) was a threat, but by far Lorient's best player was Ouattara, who headed just wide (16’) and also saw a shot punched away by Gaëtan Poussin (38’). Bordeaux finally created some chances of their own later in the first half, with Sékou Mara on target but lacking power (40’) and Hwang Ui-Jo firing just wide after some good build-up play from Danylo Ignatenko (43’).

Bordeaux returned from the break with the best of intentions. Fransérgio had a penalty shout denied after being hauled down by Dreyer (49’). A (very long) VAR check found in Lorient's favour. Hwang Ui-Jo had a flurry of chances (61’, 68’, 76’), to no avail. Substitute Gideon Mensah brought some much-needed energy, and almost beat the keeper with a cross-cum-shot (78’). Unfortunately for Gideon, he then earned himself a red card in the final minutes (86’).

Lorient never really threatened, with the exception of Ouattara. He drew another fine save from Gaëtan Poussin (60’) but a goalless draw was ultimately enough to guarantee the visitors' top flight survival. David Guion's side kept pushing until the very end, but lost structure and discipline to the extent that Lorient were able to neutralise their attacks without too much difficulty. With just 28 points and a heavily negative goal difference, Bordeaux are now virtually guaranteed to be relegated to Ligue 2. The only way they could survive would be to thrash Brest, for Metz to get hammered by Paris and for Saint-Etienne to lose heavily in Nantes... Not entirely impossible, but almost. The Girondins are 99.9% certain to go down, leaving just a tiny margin of error for the eternal optimists. For the rest of us, this is a very sad evening indeed.

FC Girondins de Bordeaux - FC Lorient : 0-0 Saturday 14 May 2022, 21:00, Matmut ATLANTIQUE, attendance: 21,191 Matchday 37 - Ligue 1 Uber Eats Bookings - Bordeaux : Ignatenko (23’), Fransérgio (70’), Ahmedhodzic (90’) - Lorient : Lemoine (45’), Ouattara (52’), Laurienté (56’), Le Fée (90’). Red card - Bordeaux : Mensah (86’). FC Girondins de Bordeaux : Poussin, Kwateng (Oudin, 72’), Guilavogui (cap.), Marcelo, Ahmedhodzic, Mangas (Mensah, 72’), Ignatenko, Fransérgio (Bakwa, 85’), Dilrosun (Klidjé, 80’), Hwang (Briand, 80’), Mara FC Lorient : Dreyer, Morel, Laporte, Mendes, Le Goff, Abergel, Lemoine (cap.), Le Fée, Ouattara (Monconduit, 72’), Laurienté (Petrot, 90’), Moffi (Koné, 68’).