An intriguing draw in our first pre-season friendly [1-1]

The sun was shining down on the 1500 fans packed into Stade Jean Brousse, with the sound system blasting and the summer holiday atmosphere in full swing. That could only mean one thing: it's pre-season friendly time. In this first step towards the new campaign, David Guion fielded a starting eleven comprising:

Bordeaux started well and created the first chance on goal from a corner struck by Gaétan Weissbeck and collected by Malcom Bokele (8’). Pau keeper Kamara looked beaten but the ball ran just wide. Pau then had a few chances of their own, with Nisic and Njom denied by Rafal Straczek (11’, 15’).

After that slight wobble, Bordeaux regained possession and began to dominate. Mathias De Amorim was busy, and new recruit Gaétan Weissbeck looked very promising in attack, firing one shot just over the bar (18’). David Tebili attempted an acrobatic shot from a headed delivery by Jacques Ekomie (34’). The break came from the penalty spot, after Mathias De Amorim was pulled down. Aliou Badji stepped up and scored without hesitation (1-0, 38’). Jacques Ekomie cleared in extremis just before the whistle to ensure that the Girondins were 1-0 up at the break. The Girondins fielded an entirely different line-up for the second half, this time featuring:

After a few opening skirmishes, Lenny Pirringuel created the first clear chance on goal only to see his shot rebuffed by Ndiaye (59’). Grégoire Swiderski also had some work to do to keep out Henri Saivet (62’) and Djitté (75’). A few minutes later he was not so lucky: a sloppy back pass forced the keeper off his line but his clearance was blocked. Our old friend Henri Saivet pounced to tee up Bassouamina, who slotted into the open goal to equalise (1-1, 81’).

Bordeaux came perilously close to losing when Pau created two more dangerous chances in quick succession. Thankfully those attacks were defused by the good defensive work of Clément Michelin, Yoann Barbet and Emmanuel Biumla. The game ended in stalemate, and both coaches will have learned some interesting lessons about their teams. For Bordeaux, both Yohan Cassubie and Lenny Pirringuel made a very positive impression.