Related News

Home » Sports » Soccer

Bordeaux closes in on French crown

GIRONDINS Bordeaux moved closer to the French Ligue 1 title on Saturday when a 1-0 win at home to Monaco kept it three points clear of Olympique Marseille with just one game left to play.

Bordeaux, which was last crowned champion 10 years ago, has 77 points after extending its win streak to 10 league games.

It visits Caen on Saturday.

Marseille, second on 74 points, secured automatic entry to the Champions League with a 2-1 win at Nancy before it hosts Stade Rennes for its last game.

"We would have liked Nancy to hold Marseille but at least we won," Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff told Canal Plus television. "Everything is still possible and it will be a tight race until the end."

Olympique Lyon is now certain to end the season in third, and will go through to Champions League qualifying, after a 3-1 home victory against Caen gave it 70 points, seven ahead of fourth-placed Toulouse, which won 2-0 at Nice.

Bordeaux struggled throughout the game but prevailed thanks to a first-half header from Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh from a Gourcuff freekick.

Marseille also feared a Nancy comeback when it conceded a goal from Landry N'Guemo two minutes from time.

Laurent Bonnart had put Marseille in front before the interval through a deflected shot, with Brandao getting the second from close range after Nancy goalie Damien Gregorini had saved a Renato Civelli header.

"We should have won 6-0," Marseille coach Eric Gerets said. "Bordeaux still has the best chance to win the title."

Brazilian Juninho scored his 100th goal for Lyon when he converted from the spot after being brought down in the area.

Top scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac scored two to take his tally to 24 goals as he helped Toulouse move up to fourth with a 2-0 win over Nice.

Second-bottom Nantes lost 1-2 at fellow struggler Sochaux and is on the brink of relegation to Ligue 2.





 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend