Ligue 1 Preview: Girondins de Bordeaux – Paris Saint-Germain

PSG got their European challenge back on track with a comfortable midweek win, but they face a far sterner challenge against les Girondins on Saturday evening…

Dec 4, 2009 10:08:14 AM

More On :  Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain, Bordeaux vs Paris Saint-Germain
Nancy vs Bordeaux
Kick-Off: Saturday, December 5, 2009. 21:00 CET
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux

Focused

Last season’s emphatic 4-0 home victory over Paris Saint-Germain on January 11 was really the point at which people started believing that Bordeaux were capable of halting Olympique Lyonnais’ all conquering run of seven consecutive league titles. Inspired by Yoann Gourcuff, who would score a quite brilliant goal in the game, les Girondins’ combination of flair and team work proved to be too much for their opponents.
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Of course, Bordeaux went on to win the title, overcoming a hiccup soon after their strong success over PSG to post an incredible winning run that stretched into this campaign. Head coach Laurent Blanc is now finding that maintaining success is harder than attaining it in the first place.

Challenged with the additional burden of the Champions League, the World Cup winning defender has focused just a little more on European competition, allowing the side’s form in Le Championnat to slip just a tad. Nevertheless, they remain top of the league, boasting a two point cushion over Lyon.

Already qualified in the Champions League, winning a group containing Juventus and Bayern Munich, Blanc has stated his intention to fix his sights fully on Ligue 1 until European competition resumes in the late winter. This is an ominous statement of intent for the clutch of clubs currently within touching distance of les Marin et Blanc.   

Slowly Erding In The Right Direction

With just four wins in all competitions since the end of August, it would seem that there is little for PSG to be particularly upbeat about. After a terrific start to the league campaign, in which Antoine Kombouare’s side looked every inch dark horses for the title, they faded drastically during a period of injury to striker Mevlut Erding.

Now back in action, the Turk hasn’t been able to inspire his side to their early season heights, though there have been tentative signs of improvement over the last month. On his return, Sochaux were hammered 4-1, and though losses against Nice and Olympique de Marseille followed, these have since been countered to some extent by successes over Auxerre and Boulogne-Sur-Mer.

The latest of these wins, which came at the Stade de la Liberation on Wednesday, was a seemingly routine 5-2 success for the capital outfit, but any observer of the first half will be aware that it was anything but simple.

Les Parisiens were terrible during that 45 minute spell and only truly came to life when Clement Chantome struck from an acute angle on the hour mark. That was the strike that opened the floodgates, and a pair of goals for Erding, a penalty for Peguy Luyindula and a first Ligue 1 strike for Jean-Eudes Maurice all followed.

Such free scoring form will be very useful to the Parisian club, who have scored only twice in their last nine visits to the Stade Chaban-Delmas, shut out entirely on eight occasions.

FORM GUIDE

Bordeaux

WON 3-0 (a) Nancy (Ligue 1, Matchday 15, November 29)

WON 2-0 (h) Juventus (Champions League, Matchday 5, November 25)

LOST 1-0 (h) Valenciennes (Ligue 1, Matchday 14, November 21)

LOST 2-0 (a) Lille (Ligue 1, Matchday 13, November 8)

WON 2-0 (a) Bayern Munich (Champions League, Matchday 4, November 3)

PSG

WON 5-2 (a) Boulogne-Sur-Mer (Ligue 1, Matchday 14, December 2)

WON 1-0 (h) Auxerre (Ligue 1, Matchday 15, November 28)

LOST 1-0 (a) Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1, Matchday 10, November 20)

LOST 1-0 (h) Nice (Ligue 1, Matchday 13, November 7)

WON 4-1 (a) Sochaux (Ligue 1, Matchday 12, November 1)

TEAM NEWS

Bordeaux

There is a mixed bag of news for Blanc to cope with ahead of the weekend’s fixture. On the plus side, Yoann Gourcuff is set to return after a spell on the sidelines due to adductor problems, probably going straight back into the first XI to play a linking role just behind the forwards.

However, in-form Brazilian midfielders Fernando and Wendel are both suspended for this encounter. Henrique completes a hat-trick of unavailable Brazilians.

Probable Starting XI: Carrasso; Chalme, Ciani, Planus, Tremoulinas; Plasil, Diarra, Gourcuff, Sertic; Gouffran, Chamakh

PSG

Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet’s injury against Auxerre last weekend was widely spread around the internet last week because of its gruesome nature, but initial reports suggest that the goalkeeper could make a return in three or four months time.

Guillaume Hoarau is back in gentle training but will not play before January, leaving Kombouare short of an offensive option.

Right-back Ceara missed the midweek encounter in Boulogne with stomach flu but is expected to regain his place on Saturday. Mamadou Sakho also sat out Wednesday’s game due to illness and is poised to return to the first XI.

Probable Starting XI: Edel; Ceara, Camara, Sakho, Armand; Makelele, Clement; Giuly, Sessegnon, Luyindula; Erding

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bordeaux

It’s easy to get confused between Yoann Gourcuff and Yoan Gouffran, but the latter is really starting to establish a niche for himself in les Girondins’ squad this season. Like the Ballon d’Or nominee, Gouffran is an offensive midfield player, and after a difficult first campaign with the Aquitaine club he has started to find his feet. A supposed target for Arsenal at one stage, the 23-year-old is en route to strike double figures this season. If PSG focus too much on Gourcuff and Chamakh, he will be the benefactor.

PSG

Youngster Mamadou Sakho is doubtless the top teenage defender in France. At 19-years-old he is already the lynchpin of Antoine Kombouare’s rearguard. Against giants Marseille and Lyon, he has excelled when those around him have stuttered, and a similarly strong performance against Bordeaux would simply cement his reputation as one of the best Ligue 1 has to offer. More importantly to his club, it would give them a fighting chance of taking something from the game.

PREDICTION

Though they lost on their last outing at home, this was a rare slide from Blanc’s men, who have been imperious at the Stade Chaban-Delmas over the course of his tenure. History backs the home team to claim maximum points, and though PSG seem to be coming into a little form, they have shown little to suggest that they can upset the champions. Expect a gritty home win.

Girondins de Bordeaux 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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