CThis time they did. After failing in Caen on January 10 (2-2) a weekend when their competitors were at a standstill, once morest Amiens three days later (1-1) then once morest Saint-Etienne (1-1) on March 4 in similar conditions, the Girondins managed the break. Metz clinging to Pau (1-1) a week following Sochaux’s defeat at Bastia (2-0), the Bordelais were full of cards at Guingamp (2-0) and once morest Bastia…
CThis time they did. After failing in Caen on January 10 (2-2) a weekend when their competitors were at a standstill, once morest Amiens three days later (1-1) then once morest Saint-Etienne (1-1) on March 4 in similar conditions, the Girondins managed the break. Metz clinging to Pau (1-1) a week following the defeat of Sochaux in Bastia (2-0), the Bordelais were full board at Guingamp (2-0) and once morest Bastia (3-2), to dig their biggest gap of the season with 3rd place. 8 days from the end, it’s perfect.
1 A joker for the sprint
With now four points ahead of the two competitors (Sochaux and Metz), the Girondins offered themselves the possibility of losing once more than their rivals in their last 8 games. In the short term, this joker obviously changes the game in the approach to the match in Metz, especially on the opposing side: the Lorraine, who also have a lower goal difference, will have to win to keep their destiny in hand. Even a draw would look like a defeat for them, as they have the toughest schedule with trips to Saint-Etienne and Sochaux.
Even before knowing the results, captain Yoann Barbet wanted to look ahead: following Le Havre’s draw, the gap with the leader has never been so small since the World Cup break. The Bordelais have taken 4 points from the Normans over the last 7 days: at this rate, they can even hope to take them all back. “The objective was to put the pressure on before watching the others play”, advanced the Libournais by birth in the mixed zone, at the microphone of France 3 and ARL. Before refocusing on his team: “We have to focus on us. If we do the job, we won’t have to look at the others. »
“The goal was to put the pressure on before watching the others play”
Also to avoid tensing up now that the recovery objective is becoming concrete. “We said it: Vital (Nsimba), me, the old ones, we try to take the pressure off our shoulders so that the young people keep their enthusiasm and make us win. It is up to us to do what is necessary. “The more it progresses, the more important it is to quickly move on from one game to another,” said midfielder Junior Mwanga.
2 The possibility of eliminating Metz
After having definitively ruled out Amiens in February, the Girondins eliminated Bastia from the race for the climb on Saturday. They will probably distance Metz definitively if they succeed at Saint-Symphorien on Saturday. “An important moment” recognized Yoann Barbet. “We have the perspective of winning all the matches,” replied Junior Mwanga.
The Messins, who conceded the draw, were aware on their side of having missed important points. “When you lead 1-0, when you have opportunities to lead 2-0, you are not far from victory, commented Lorraine coach Lazlo Bölöni. Even if the draw is fair on the face, it’s a shame because we came close. The players were dejected. I do not think that the victory of Bordeaux played in the heads. We know that we will have to go to the end of this championship. We keep our invincibility (17 games), we take a point but we are sad. We will have to leave. »
His Bordeaux counterpart David Guion: “It’s a very difficult championship. Each match in L1 is different tactically, the players have to be very fresh and available in their heads to listen to us. This is why I insisted on the ability to question oneself. »
PREMIERE
It is a request from BeIn Sport, which has been accepted by the Technical Direction of Arbitration: the referee of Metz – Girondins broadcast next Saturday on the channel, will be sounded. A great first in Ligue 2. All comments will be recorded and, if they will not be transmitted live, will be broadcast a posteriori.
Mentioned by broadcasters for several years, the sound system for referees has received the support of the French Football Federation and the Professional League since the start of the season. The first was performed by Benoît Millot during Lyon – Nantes on March 17.
The referees for the match have not yet been appointed.
