Monaco 0-0 Girondins de Bordeaux: No Score & Few Thrills In Dour Stalemate

Les Girondins remain some way off their best form after failing to really trouble les Monegasques at the Stade Louis II...

Mar 13, 2010 7:53:00 PM

By Robin Bairner

More On :  AS Monaco, Bordeaux, AS Monaco vs Bordeaux
Ligue 1 : Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux)

Girondins de Bordeaux’s Ligue 1 title hopes took a significant dent in Monaco, where they were held to a scoreless draw.
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The Stade Louis II was the scene of one of last term’s greatest matches, with les Girondins coming back from a 3-0 deficit to snatch a 4-3 success, but there was none of that excitement on show on Saturday. In what was a fragmented and difficult to watch affair, neither side really created any meaningful scoring opportunities, though it was les Monegasques who looked the more potent side.

Girondins coach Laurent Blanc fielded a squad that will probably bare only limited resemblance to the team to face Olympiacos in midweek, so it was perhaps little surprise that the first period was largely dominated by the hosts.

Set pieces proved the dominant source of interest in the early stages of the match, but even Nene’s normally accurate delivery let him down somewhat. Lukman Haruna did angle an effort at Cedric Carrasso’s goal, but his strike wasn’t caught cleanly and ended up well off target.

Just as Bordeaux began to get something of a foothold in the game, winning a series of ineffective corners and free kicks, Monaco enjoyed the first real opening of a tight encounter. Yannick Sagbo, who was preferred to Moussa Maazou in attack, showed fine skill to get away from Fernando to crack a stinging shot at goal. Carrasso was equal to the effort, turning the ball safely away from the target.

There was no immediate fluidity after the break, with free kicks again providing the points of interest in the side. A Gregory Sertic set play ultimately broke to Yoan Gouffran, though the former Caen man wasted a glaring opportunity by sending his effort well over the top from close range.


Eye On The Ball | Bordeaux Remain Below Par

Sertic was frequently involved in Bordeaux’s best moves, but these were few and far between, with Stephane Ruffier collapsing on a drive centre with some ease.

Blanc showed his dissatisfaction with his side with three quarters of the game gone, making a treble change that involved the entrance of Marouane Chamakh and Yoann Gourcuff, two of his leading lights.

By no means would the game burst into life, but Bordeaux did look a great deal more stable. Chances were still at a premium, so when Gouffran unleashed a low drive from distance on 79 minutes that narrowly missed the upright, it was one of the highlights of the game.

A couple of minutes later Monaco had the best opening of the game match. Substitute Maazou was on hand 12 yards out to steer an effort at Carrasso’s goal, but the visiting custodian made a terrific block to deny the Niger international. From Nene’s resultant corner, his header flirted with the post.

There was to be no winning goal from either side, and this was in truth a match that didn’t deserve either side to earn three points. Bordeaux remain top for the time being, though on such form it is a matter of time before they are usurped.

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