Bordeaux held to a draw in Ajaccio [0-0]

Bordeaux wasted no time in setting out their stall, creating a flurry of early chances. Aliou Badji connected with a Clément Michelin cross to fire in a pacy volley, but Ajaccio keeper Michel managed to get his hands to it (6’). Barely two minutes later, from a corner, Pedro Diaz tried his luck but was denied by another strong save from the keeper (8’).

With just 11 minutes played, the players were ordered off the field as a result of an incident in the stands at Stade François-Coty. The interruption lasted for the best part of an hour, but play was eventually able to resume. The Girondins picked up where they left off, piecing together a superb, flowing attacking movement which culminated with Zuriko Davitashvili and Vital Nsimba playing a net one-two inside the box. Unfortunately, the Georgian international could not quite finish it off (15’).

Ajaccio attempted to respond in kind, but soon ran up against the imperturbable Rafal Straczek (16’). Both sides were playing with impressive intensity, and certain passages of play were nothing short of breathless. The last chance of the first period fell to the Girondins, when Vital Nsimba delivered a pitch-perfect cross for Aliou Badji. The Senegal international's shot was on target, but once again the Corsican keeper had it covered.

After the break, the Girondins continued to look good on the ball and dangerous in attack. New boy Pedro Diaz teed up Jérémy Livolant for what looked like a golden opportunity, but luck was clearly not on Bordeaux's side this evening (52’).  In the 67th minute, Gaétan Weissbeck curled in a peach of a shot from the edge of the box only to see it bounce back off the woodwork.

Ajaccio seemed mostly content to hold on for the draw, with their best chance of the second half a header from Bayala which drifted wide of the goal (70’). In the dying seconds of the game, Aliou Badji headed just over the bar (90+3’). Despite dominating possession and looking dangerous in attack throughout, the Girondins de Bordeaux never quite managed to break the deadlock at Stade François-Coty. The boys will be back in action next Saturday 26 August 2023 against Amiens, kick-off 3pm at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE.