It’s rare for a game to reflect an entire season to such an extent. Wednesday, April 20, Bordeaux-Saint-Etienne (2-2 on behalf of the 33rd day of Ligue 1) was the perfect mirror of all the achievements of the two clubs since the start of the exercise. Stéphanois (18th) and Girondins (19th) are capable of episodic dazzling and doubling jealousy through sequences, and have also shown their most important frontier: continuity.
In the game, first. After a thunderous first half hour, interrupted by goals from Sékou Mara (15th) and Junior Onana (22nd), the Bordelais slowly sank. Until ASSE equalized, while the Foréziens waited until the 31st minute to fire their first shot. †They had two shots on target for two goals†† Bitterly noted David Guion, the Bordeaux coach, at a press conference.
Parity score in this game.
[2-2] #FCGBASSE pic.twitter.com/CeOZZyoHed
– FC Girondins de Bordeaux (@girondins) Apr 20, 2022
But the technician, who arrived on the banks of the Garonne in February, pointed mainly to other wanderings. †The team was technically very feverish and was unable to hold the ball. But it is also played on mental aspects“, detailed Guion. The former Remois only confirmed the general impression left by his people as soon as the end of the match was whistled. Stoic and stunned, his players remained on the pitch for long minutes, before greeting the Virage Sud. As in Lyon four days earlier (6-1 defeat), in Reims (5-0), Rennes (6-0) or Strasbourg (5-2), they threw themselves after the first goal, in this case from Denis Bouanga (31st ). From the 45th to the 75th minute, Bordeaux couldn’t hold the ball anymore, but the correctional even curled in. But Arnaud Nordin’s header, the scorer two minutes earlier, was pushed back through the crossbar (66th).
Sign of a game decidedly difficult to read, the Girondins nevertheless have “anything to win, there was an amazing burst of energy, Guion underlined. It was played on a heel… That of Mbaye Niang, in an offside position on a goal by Jimmy Briand in added time. The stadium then capsized, substitute Paul Baysse melted onto the lawn and the ultras burst a smoke bomb… for nothing. The VAR has Before this burst of pride, the Bordelais were overwhelmed by the intensity of the vengeful Stéphanois.
“My players got their 19th point behind [sur 31]† This proves that this team is in good health, but they need to solve their defensive problems. The first half was messy.”
Pascal Dupraz, coach of Saint-Etienneat the press conference after the game
Against Brest on Saturday (2-1) the Greens had already turned around a badly started situation. ASSE has also shown its commitment. His six yellow cards are indicative of that, although some were due to poorly channeled nervousness. †It was a dedicated game, a good game at the bottom of the table, not a tutu football. It’s a contact sport“, joked Pascal Dupraz, who himself warned at the end of the match. True to his reputation, the technician from Haute-Savoie gestured a lot from his technical room, constantly addressing his players. His grip cut drastically with the calm David Guion with a more measured character, often sitting on his couch.In the end, it was his players who reacted when they had their backs against the wall.
†We will have to win all games, especially away from home“, a Bordeaux coach repeats “disappointed with the result”† Clermont’s win, on the wire in Troyes (0-1), does not help the Marines and Whites: they are now four points behind the roadblocker. A position now occupied by Saint-Etienne, even if Pascal Dupraz does not “don’t look at the rankings†It’s a point against a direct competitordelighted the former Toulouse coach for his “only math point”. The days go by, we still have a four point lead plus a favorable goal difference over Bordeaux.“And slipping:”With 31 points we don’t stay in L1. I have more than hope, I have certainties, they are mine, but ASSE will stand.†
