On paper, the poster for the round of 16 between Brest and Bordeaux, two elite teams, was attractive. But it has been known for a few days that the Gironde team, affected by a record number of 21 cases of Covid-19, would only have Ligue 1 in the name, not the players … With only seven pros and thirteen players from the reserve team , which evolves in National 3, the Bordelais are logically inclined (3-0).
Timothée Pembélé, the only pro defender available, was tasked with bringing his experience despite his 19 years. The attack line was for its part more stamped L1, with Briand, Hwang, Elis and Dilrosun.
Unsurprisingly, Michel Der Zakarian’s men dominated the debates. If Bordeaux knew how to round back, defending with abnegation failing to succeed in holding the ball, Brest ended up finding the opening thanks to a personal feat of Romain Faivre.
The attacking midfielder, who started from his camp, ended up broke in the area and Steve Mounié converted the penalty (1-0, 36th). Rather shy until then, Brest has multiplied the opportunities, by Lilian Brassier (38th), Irvin Cardona (40th, 42nd) and Franck Honorat (44th, 45th).
At halftime, the Girondins had not attempted the slightest strike, and things did not get better: Jimmy Briand was injured (51st), and his replacement Amadou Traoré, also affected, did not pass only nine short minutes in the field. When nothing goes right…
The waves of Brest continued, with a volley from Cardona out by Rouyard (59th) and a shot by Honorat on the bar (65th). Always so powerless offensively, Bordeaux gave in when Jacques Ekomie hooked Jérémy Le Douaron in the box: Faivre folded the match with a panenka on the penalty that followed (2-0, 81st). And Le Douaron finished knocking out the Bordelais in stoppage time (3-0, 90th + 3).
“The young players responded well, unfortunately, we ended the match with two more injuries (Briand and Traoré, both affected in a calf), blows Bordeaux coach Vladimir Petkovic. It’s really difficult to physically manage the players in this time of Covid. What was my talk with the young people? I told them to have fun, that it was an opportunity for them to play this kind of match. There was a noticeable physical difference, but overall they behaved well. ”
Petkovic may have to rack his brains once more to define the eleven who will face Marseille on Friday for the resumption of Ligue 1. Provided that the meeting is well maintained … “It will be very difficult to prepare the team, it there are 10 or 15 players who may not be able to be available, he continues. Some will not resume training until Wednesday when they have not trained for 10 days. I think it can even be dangerous for their health. It’s a difficult time for us ”.
