No goals but a battling spirit [0-0]

A league game in July, the Virage Sud switched to the north of the stadium and the Ligue 2 logo plastered across the screens: the fans arriving at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE this afternoon could not help but notice that things have changed. But one thing remains the same: the Girondins de Bordeaux are alive and well and ready to get the season underway, after two months of sometimes unbearable administrative twists and turns. Inevitably, that tension made itself felt on the pitch. To take on Valenciennes, David Guion fielded a young and inexperienced team, largely made up of recent academy graduates. That lack of experience was surely to blame for the timid start, as the Girondins took a while to find their feet.

They did not create many chances in the first half, but their pre-season preparations clearly paid off in the form of some very efficient clearances and a constant desire to press forward. Valenciennes were solid enough, but also failed to create much up front. The visitors won a few free kicks, but they came to nothing. The Girondins looked much more dangerous in the second half, with Malcom Bokele an impressive presence on the right wing and Dilane Bakwa dribbling through the visitors' defence on several occasions. Jacques Ekomié looked solid out on the left, and the midfield pairing of Danylo Ignatenko and Tom Lacoux is clearly a promising prospect.

Junior Mwanga brought his strength to bear on the midfield, and after one well-timed tackle he found Logan Delaurier-Chaubet, who picked out Josh Maja, who laid off a lovely ball for Dilane Bakwa. Valenciennes keeper Larsonneur produced an excellent save to turn his shot away (51’). Ten minutes later, Malcom Bokele teed up Josh Maja for a volley which flew just over the bar (61'). Ten minutes after that Maja found himself in a very similar position, but this time the Nigerian international's shot was stopped by the keeper. As time went by David Guion's men seemed to go from strength to strength in attack, urged on by an enthusiastic home crowd. But in spite of the support, and their dominance, they could never quite find an opening.

They might have hoped for a better result, but this evening the Girondins put on a display defined by its collective spirit, positivity and desire to win. There is still a long way to go this season, but the signs are very encouraging indeed for David Guion and his staff.