Ligue 1 Preview: Girondins de Bordeaux – Stade Rennais

Les Girondins face a tough mission to keep up their good form in Ligue 1 against les Rouge et Noir on Sunday evening...

Sep 26, 2009 2:00:42 PM

More On :  Bordeaux, Stade Rennais FC, Bordeaux vs Stade Rennais FC
Jerome Leroy Scores against Marseille
Kick-Off: Sunday September 27, 2009. 21:00CET
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux

Relentless

When Bordeaux marched to their first league title in a decade last season, they did so in some style, claiming 11 straight Ligue 1 successes. Throughout that remarkable two-and-a-half month run there were several chances for Laurent Blanc’s men to slip, the most obvious of which was against Rennes in Brittany.
Don't Miss

Boasting an unbeaten record to that point, les Rogues et Noir pushed ahead in the first minute of the game and seemed in complete command when Marc Planus was sent-off after 27 minutes. So things would remain until 62 minutes, when Yoann Gouffran levelled. Gourcuff then took matters into his own hands and scored to put Bordeaux into a shock lead. Though Rennes levelled in the very last minute, Gourcuff’s stoppage time winner summed up the resolve that les Girondins have shown in each match they have played since the start of March.

Since losing to Toulouse on March 7, Bordeaux have played 20 fixtures. During this period they have won 18 times and have only drawn away to European superpowers Juventus and French titans Olympique de Marseille.

Even against the odds, Bordeaux have found a route to victory, and with a big Champions League fixture coming up against Maccabi Haifa, Sunday evening’s match against Rennes will prove as stern a challenge as any for Blanc’s men – particularly because Gourcuff is liable to miss out through injury.

The young playmaker has been the star of Ligue 1 ever since he joined Bordeaux on loan from Milan and although, since signing in the summer he has not hit the absolute pinnacle of his powers, he is still very much the talisman of the side.

Stubborn

Only Bordeaux, Marseille and Toulouse lost fewer Ligue 1 matches that Rennes last season, yet the Breton’s propensity to pick up draws prevented them from reaching European football. Now reassembled by fresh coach Frederic Antonetti, the current incarnation of the Breton side have shown all the attributes of the team that reached seventh in Le Championnat last season.

After six games of this campaign, Rennes are one of four undefeated sides, but three draws have stunted their progress up the league table. Their inability to turn one point into three has been particularly obvious away from home in recent times, so Bordeaux is not the place to be going to seek maximum points.

Les Girondins are unbeaten at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in league play since November 2007, when Lyon triumphed 3-1 at the venue, and have not conceded a goal in their last four matches.

However, Antonetti will hope that les Marin et Blanc have their concentration partly attracted to the midweek Champions League encounter. Rennes are a side primed to take advantage of any such complacency.

Having built on the foundations laid by Guy Lacombe over the previous 18 months, Antonetti’s side remain a robust unit capable of some flowing attacking football, and they have already frustrated Marseille this season, holding OM to a 1-1 draw at the Stade de la Route de Lorient.

Although Rennes played in midweek, Antonetti rotated his side greatly, so fatigue will not be an issue for the Bretons in this contest.

FORM

Bordeaux

WON 2-0 (a) Boulogne-Sur-Mer (Ligue 1 Matchday 6, September 19)

DREW 1-1 (a) Juventus (Champions League Matchday 1, September 15)

WON 1-0 (h) Grenoble (Ligue 1 Matchday 5, September 12)

DREW 0-0 (a) Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1 Matchday 4, August 30)

WON 4-0 (h) Nice (Ligue 1 Matchday 3, August 23)

Rennes

WON 2-1 (h) Sochaux (Coupe de la Ligue, September 23)

WON 4-0 (a) Grenoble (Ligue 1 Matchday 6, September 19)

WON 1-0 (h) Saint-Etienne (Ligue 1 Matchday 5, September 13)

DREW 2-2 (a) Racing Club de Lens (Ligue 1 Matchday 4, August 29)

DREW 1-1 (h) Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1 Matchday 3, August 22)

TEAM NEWS

Bordeaux

As well as having Wednesday’s match to consider, Blanc also has a number of injury concerns. The medical staff are doing everything in their power to get Gourcuff ready, but the messages coming from the Garonne club are pessimistic. The midfielder did train with the team for 20 minutes on Friday, though. In addition, Wendel has been ill over the last couple of days and is therefore doubtful.

Cedric Carrasso and Marc Planus are expected to feature in the squad.

Probable starting XI: Carrasso; Chalme, Planus, Ciani, Tremoulinas; Gouffran, Fernando, A. Diarra, Jussie; Cavenaghi, Chamakh

Rennes

Frederic Antonetti has his share of headaches prior to this clash. Definitely out is long-term injury worry Jimmy Briand, who is not expected back until November, while commanding centre-back Petter Hansson has a calf problem and will not feature.

Moussa Sow is reported to have recovered from injury and should play.

Probable Starting XI: Douchez; Fanni, Mangane, Aubey, Bocanegra; Lemoine, Cheyrou; Bangoura, Leroy, Marveaux; Gyan

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bordeaux

A lot of attention has again circulated around Moroccan forward Marouane Chamakh, who has been Bordeaux’s best player over the last year, if Gourcuff is not considered. He admitted this summer that he lost sleep because of similar problems, but les Girondins will need their spearhead to be at his sharpest if Gourcuff does indeed miss out. With three goals, he is in hot form.

Rennes

The Bretons have been in terrific goal scoring form this season, and a large part of their offensive success has been due to veteran offensive midfielder Jerome Leroy, whose astute play has created many chances for team-mates. In addition, the 34-year-old has found the net twice on his own accord and is capable of creating something from nothing. He will have to be closely shackled.

PREDICTION

Bordeaux don’t often drop points at home – they’ve not done so at all since the middle of February – but it will take a great effort from Blanc’s men to secure maximum points against an incredibly able but very under-rated Rennes side. Both sides are on good goal scoring form, and both will find the net, but there won’t be anything separating them come full-time.

Girondins de Bordeaux 1-1 Stade Rennais

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
Follow Goal.com on Twitter
Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. Capello remains one of the greats of the game Capello remains one of the greats of the game

    After tasting success wherever he had gone previously, the coach will look upon his time at Wembley as an incomplete job rather than a complete failure

  2. Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback? Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback?

    The divisive Uruguayan can look to history when he starts against United on Saturday for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra

  3. Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool

    The former Reds defender believes that the Uruguayan must put controversy to the back of his mind when his team face the champions

  4. The importance of Champions League qualification The importance of Champions League qualification

    The Ruhr side's remarkable run in Europe's elite tournament saw their revenue unexpectedly soar last season, but some teams are structured to depend on such results to survive

  5. Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round

    Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...

 
Advertisement
Advertisement