Rennais lose late to Bordeaux

Les Rouge et Noir hearts were broken as Yoann Gourcuff scored in the last strike of the match of the night to lead Bordeaux to a 3-2 victory.

With the vision of continuing their unbeaten run at home the match started perfectly for Rennais as seventeen seconds in Olivier Thomert led a quick fire assault with Moussa Sow's low cross being sent to the back of the net by Romain Danzé. Les Bretons narrowly missed doubling the margin shortly thereafter but at the twenty-seventh minute, the referee Monsieur Duhamel appropriately showed Marc Planus a straight red-card for his late challenge Moussa Sow. Not deterred by the disadvantage Bordeaux raced forward with an eye towards points and overtaking l'OM. At the half Guy Lacombe makes a tactical change, calling upon Asamoah Gyan for Olivier Thomert but les Girondins de Bordeaux quickly impose their will and with just under a half-hour remaining Yoan Gouffran volleyed the ball past Cheikh Ndiay from twenty mètres to the far left corner after Petter Hansson's poor clearance header comes straight to him. At the eightieth minute Carlos Bocanegra poor challenge from behind led to a free kick on the edge of the area resulting in Yoann Gourcuff curling effort to the left corner of the net to make it 2-1 for Laurent Blanc's side. After Rennais had a pénalty appeal turned down with ten minutes left as Monsieur Duhamel looks the other way of a Ulrich Ramé's contact with Asamoah Gyan justice was served as Moussa Sow seemingly maintained Rennais invincible home record turning in a loose ball with a minute left. Yet in a cruel twist of fate in the fourth minute of added time Ramé started a fast break with Yoann Gourcuff pounding the ball in from from the edge of the area, giving Bordeaux the 3-2 victory.

PSG falls to Bordeaux in Coupe de la Ligue

Parisians hopes of advancing to the Coupe de la Ligue finals perished at Parc des Princes as Bordeaux defeated PSG 3-0 in decisive fashion. With Stéphane Le Mignan's Vannes continuing their Cinderella run defeating Nice on penalties, the Girondins appear ready to add some hardware to the trophy case.

The match was a peculiar sort with notable attack intent but quality defending in the final third of the pitch on either end but certainly Bordeaux's Marc Planus and Souleymane Diawara deserve special mention for frustrating the host sides efforts. PSG will look back on the match with painful regrets as both Stéphane Sessegnon and Mateja Kežman missed glorious chances to score and the Serbian international foolishly throwing his shirt in anger after being substituted at the hour.

In a moment of defending ineptitude, Laurent Blanc's side took the lead seventeen minutes in against the run of the play as Franck Jurietti crossed brilliantly for David Bellion to nod home. Eyebrow raising calls as the half waned down denied the Parisians two penalty calls and the match went to the break 1-0. With the restart, the rich attacking play of the first half waned as resolve to go forward was reserved for the final moments. As PSG poured forward in the final minutes, they were susceptible to counter, which is precisely how Bordeaux scored its final two goals. With three minutes remaining Jussiê provided Souleymane Diawara a well-weighted ball with the Senegalese international finishing perfectly. Deep into added-time, Wendel added a bit of dressing to the score-line tucking the ball behind Mickaël Landreau from Fernando's counter initiative.

PSG returns to play this Saturday against Nantes.

Coupe de la Ligue; PSG v Bordeaux match preview

Parc des Princes is the setting for this evenings Coupe de la Ligue semi-final clash between PSG and Bordeaux. In a very surprising decision, Paul Le Guen has decided to rest Claude Makélélé for the visit to Nantes this weekend. While not downplaying the important of the Coupe, the manager reaffirmed the priority of Ligue 1. Following the 4-0 beating that the Girondins handed out on January 11, the Parisians will need to structure their defensive shape and marking, lest the evening will be an unpleasant one. Laurent Blanc's efforts will be buoyed with the services of Jussiê and Marouane Chamakh with only the young genius Henri Saivet absent.

Bordeaux pays back PSG with 4-0 destruction

With a backdrop of PSG’s 1-0 victory over Bordeaux in the second week of the year and only four points off perennial champion Olympique Lyonnais in first place, Laurent Blanc’s side put forth a stunning demonstration as they defeated the Parisians 4-0. For PSG, the match started with promise as they had a keen eye towards finding an early goal and appeared to have the upper hand. Yet in-hindsight Bordeaux was merely finding their rhythm and it was a beat the PSG could not keep up with.

The cold evening chill at Stade Chaban Delmas could not slow Bordeaux and after PSG challenged early, Souleymane Diawara drove into the box dreadfully unmarked to aggressively head Yoann Gourcuff free-kick to give the home side a 1-0 lead after ten minutes. The goal seemed to startle PSG and the attacking intent of Stéphane Sessegnon bled-out and the brilliant young striker Guillaume Hoarau seemingly absent. Ten minutes from the break Mathieu Chalmé sent a stunning pass some thirty-five plus meters to a surging Fernando Cavenaghi who followed with a textbook left-footed half volley into the back of the net. It was a telling blow as the Argentine international, Cavenaghi had snuck behind Zoumana Camara who appeared to expect Mickaël Landreau to move up to challenge the ball but in a rare moment of indecision the PSG ‘keeper did not come forward. With the lead now doubled the chilling temperatures juxtoposed temper flares up on the pitch. Tackles took a harsher tone and referee Stéphane Lannoy worked diligently to maintain control of the match. Quite truthfully, PSG was fortunate not to be playing a man down before the break as Stéphane Sessegnon embarrassed himself with a dreadful dive that was deserving of his second yellow-card of the night. While PSG hunted for a goal to draw them back into the match, Yoann Gourcuff provided a highlight clip piece of footwork that will live throughout his long career. Receiving the ball in the box he outwitted Sammy Traoré by dragging the ball back and finishing perfectly into the net to bring the match to a 3-0 scoreline with twenty minutes remaining. Regardless of your allegiances it was absolute genius and further evidence of his boundless promise. Stéphane Sessegnon night of horror continued in the final ten minutes as from six meters out and a golden opportunity for a consolation goal, he managed to somehow send the ball off track. The celebration continued for the home fans as Fernando Menegazzo added the fourth goal with three minutes remaining to bring the match to the final 4-0 score.

Without a doubt this was PSG’s darkest moment this campaign and they will need to show the mettle they are made of. Lessons are to be learned from this match and in so doing, continue their chase for hardware. Resolve is what champions are made of and now is the time to show it. PSG enters a unique scheduling run as their next five Ligue 1 matches are all against lower-table sides that could easy see them come out with a full fifteen points. With Sochaux-Montbéliard, SM Caen, FC Nantes, Saint-Étienne and Grenoble the opportunity to climb up the table is before them.

Before returning to Ligue 1 action, PSG faces RC Lens in a thrilling Coupe de la Ligue match this Wednesday.

PSG visits Bordeaux

The backdrop of the PSG, Bordeaux match certainly has taken a different turn following Saturday’s Ligue 1 match. With the Les Rouges et Noirs continuing on their incredible run defeating Grenoble, Rennes is now two points behind perennial champion Olympique Lyonnais who were held by Lorient to a 1-1 draw. Coupled with l’OM’s comfortable 2-0 victory over AJ Auxerre, the table is not only open but without a doubt the chance to end Claude Puel’s club seven year dynasty is there.

Debate it all you will and as much as they will deny it, both Laurent Blanc and Paul Le Guen know that a victory would catapult their sides to within a whisper of the top spot. For Paul Le Guen and certainly all PSG fans, the events of the first half of the campaign have a surreal taste to them. While this time last year I spent my time putting pen to paper, exalting the club on to avoid relegation, now we sit and discuss European efforts and yes, the chance of ending Lyon’s domination of Ligue 1.

Stade Chaban Delmas will be a uninviting setting for PSG, not only because of near sub-zero temperatures as the match commences but the thirst in Laurent Blanc’s heart to bring his side to win a point of Lyon with a victory over PSG. Both sides are void of fresh injuries and have rested their forces such that this match will be played with their finest troops. As you would expect, the cat and mouse game with both managers complimentary of each others sides has been active this week as he knows this heavyweight battle could be elixir to the ultimate goal.

Echoeing Paul Le Guen ’s sentiments, Bordeaux is a incredibly challenging club, of utmost quality that go forth is complex formation. With a litany of talent, most notably Yoann Gourcuff, Wendel and Yoan Gouffran, Bordeaux will pose a host of problems for Claude Makélélé and company. While the interaction of Alou Diarra with PSG’s Ludovic Giuly and France’s great emerging players, Guillaume Hoarau could be a key structural component, Stéphane Sessegnon will need to be at his absolute best. In the end, this match will bring out the best of both sides and be won through superiour tactics of Paul Le Guen and Laurent Blanc.

Bordeaux awaits

The return of Ligue 1 is finally here. While the break is only a short one, with so much on the line for our Parisians the break has seemed longer than it is. After the disaster last year, in which dreaded relegation was avoided at the wire and only half a season after the Parisians are five points behind Lyonnais in fourth place.

On Sunday, Paul Le Guen’s forces travel to Bordeaux in a crucial match and with so much on the line, the club has kept a close reign on information. Practices and tactical planning have been less open as they know they must be at their best to surprise Laurent Blanc’s hearty squad. The brilliant young leader has quickly established himself as one of the best managers in the game in such a short time and surely when the time comes for him to take charge of Les Bleus, he will lead them to greatness.

PSG recognizes the daunting task and will need Guillaume Hoarau to continue his scoring prowess in the second half of the campaign. A quiet leader, the young striker has made his mark on Lique 1 this year and overdue a call to represent Les Bleus. Following the Coupe de France match against ÉDS Montluçon, the club reported no significant injuries and is expected to have a full lineup available for Sunday.

CFR Cluj hopes to advance drop with loss to Bordeaux

CFR Cluj's hopes to advance to the next round of the Champions League took a big fall win a 2-1 loss to Bordeaux at home. Cluj fell victim to poor defensive play early with Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff scoring barely six minutes from the start but were able to level it only three minutes later with Dani heading the ball in, set-up from a Emmanuel Culio free-kick. Thanks to some great goalkeeper by Bordeaux's Mathieu Valverde, Cluj were kept off the score-sheet again and Wendel gave the Ligue 1 club the important away victory with seven minutes remaining in the half with a perfectly placed free-kick from twenty meters or so. The loss dumps Cluj to bottom of fourth in Group A, two points behind both Bordeaux and Roma. Unfortunately Ciprian Deac, the highly promising young Tricolorii striker didn't fare in the starting lineup but did enter with thirteen minutes remaining. Hopefully in the future Maurizio Trombetta will make him part of the strategic plan and actually feature a great young Romanian striker.

CFR Cluj to final sixteen?

CFR Cluj is in perfect position to advance to the final sixteen of the Champions League as they are presently in second position behind Chelsea and a point above Bordeaux and Roma. While still stinging with the 1-0 loss in Bordeaux, a victory would provide valuable points towards their goal. Manager Maurizio Trombetta has Cluj ready for the visiting Ligue 1 club and brimming with confidence following this past weekends 1-0 victory over Unirea Voluntari Urziceni.

In the Champions League press conference he said: "It's an important game and we're confident. It's a decisive match, like all the rest, but there is only a point between us and Bordeaux so it is even more important. We have to play to our maximum to win. "Bordeaux will play the same here as they did in the away leg, very fast in attack and dangerous on the counter. But we're at home and have to dominate. We've had one more day's rest than them and that could be an advantage for us."

For Bordeaux, Matthieu Valverde will start between the pipes for Bordeaux as Ulrich Ramé is injured. Cluj supporters can expect young Tricolorii striker Ciprian Deac ito figure large as Cluj will be without Diego Ruiz and Didi. The young striker will not disappoint and is long overdue to play a prominent role in the club or re-consider his decision to stay. Veteran Eugen Trică will also be missing as he is out with a suspension.

CFR Cluj Champions League draw results

Ioan Andone leads CFR Cluj into the Champions League. The defending Liga I champions were draw into Group A with Roma of Italy's Serie A, Girondins de Bordeaux of France's Ligue 1 and Chelsea of England's Premier League.

Match Day One - September 16
Roma - CFR Cluj

Matchday Three - Oct 22
Girondins de Bordeaux - CFR Cluj

Matchday Five - Nov 26
CFR 1907 Cluj - AS Roma

Matchday Two - Oct 1
CFR Cluj - Chelsea FC

Matchday Four - Tuesday 4 Nov 2008
CFR Cluj - Girondins de Bordeaux

Matchday Six - Tuesday 9 Dec 2008
Chelsea - CFR Cluj