Champions League - Bordeaux edge Bayern

Eurosport - Wed, 21 Oct 21:44:00 2009

Bordeaux emerged victorious from a night of calamity at Stade Chaban-Delmas to beat nine-man Bayern Munich 2-1 in Champions League Group A.

FOOTBALL Champions League Bordeaux's Marc Planus and team-mates celebrate goal against Bayern Munich - 0

The capacity crowd in France played witness to a roller-coaster game that featured one own goal, one glorious goal, one lucky goal, two red cards and two missed penalties in a thrilling encounter, which eventually saw Bordeaux defender Marc Planus emerge as the match-winner after Michael Ciani had made amends for his earlier own goal.

In truth the margin of victory could have been wider for the Ligue 1 champions after Thomas Muller saw red after half an hour for Bayern with Daniel Van Buyten following him down the tunnel later, but Yoann Gourcuff and Jussie both saw their penalties saved as veteran shot-stopper Hans-Jorg Butt did as much as anybody to contribute to the drama.

In the end, the Germans may even rue a guilt-edged second-half miss by Luca Toni, which saw him spurn an open goal by sending his header against a post.

Despite locking horns at the top of Group A ahead of kick-off, this was very much a meeting of two out-of-form teams, yet they served up a cracking football match.

Bordeaux had only won one of their last three domestically, while Bayern came into the game after suffering back-to-back defeats in the Bundesliga for the first time since February 2007.

Bayern's plight was made all the more difficult by injuries to their two star players Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, and things would get even worse when Muller's red card left them to play an hour with 10 men.

Things had started brilliantly for Louis Van Gaal's team, who stole ahead after just five minutes thanks to a comical piece of defending from Ciani. Reacting painfully late to Holger Badstuber's inswinging corner, Ciani flicked the outside of his boot at the ball, only succeeding in half-volleying into his own net.

Bordeaux refused to be knocked out of their stride though, moving the ball at speed as Marouane Chamakh missed a golden opportunity soon after, slicing wide of the near post after being played clean through.

The crucial factor would be Bayern's indiscipline though, which led to a host of set pieces in and around their area, eventually leading to an equaliser from that man Ciani.

Prompting memories of Gianfranco Zola's near-post flick against Norwich, Ciani darted to the near post to meet Wendel's corner with the most delicious of flicks to atone for his earlier area.

One-all, Bordeaux in the ascendency.

Bayern still were not learning their lessons as a second clumsy challenge by young striker Muller saw Munich reduced to 10 men, Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni becoming increasingly isolated as the half wore on.

Bordeaux's one-touch football was beginning to cut through the Bayern defence at will and both Wendel and Gourcuff brought the best out of Butt in the Bayern goal.

However, there was nothing the shot-stopper could do five minutes before half time as yet another Wendel set-piece looped off Planus into the far corner, gifting Bordeaux a fortunate yet deserved half time lead.

The game was now Bordeaux's to lose as Gourcuff instantly found more room on the ball in the second period, yet their own indiscipline was threatening to spoil things as Chamakh saw yellow for diving while Gourcuff earned the same punishment for a needless tug of the shirt.

Nevertheless the next goal undoubtedly looked like coming from the hosts, and on 65 minutes it really should have arrived.

For no apparent reason, Butt suddenly fancied himself as the next Lionel Messi as he tried to dribble around Chamakh, and when the forward nicked the ball off his toes Butt had no choice but to bring him down.

Up stepped fans' favourite Gourcuff, but he too was struck by a moment of insanity as he tried a dinked penalty down the middle, allowing Butt to redeem himself.

It should have been a game-turning save as seven minutes later Bayern made a rare break upfield, Mark Van Bommel crossing deep to the far post where only Luca Toni knows how he contrived to hit a post from three yards with an open goal at his mercy.

Bordeaux pressed forward, trying to finish matters, and they were handed another golden opportunity from 12 yards as Daniel Van Buyten pulled down Chamakh with three minutes left.

Substitute Jussie stepped up, drove the ball the same way as Gourcuff, yet Butt was there again to bring a fittingly thrilling finish to a superb football match.

Ben Blackmore / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. Hey igor, dont know what article you've been­ reading. How you can say this article is some how­ saying england are claiming they are world no 1 or the­ best at footy is absolute nonsense. The reason for this­ is A) the article does not mention english football B)­ Praises the skill shown by bordeux C) Does not MENTION­ english football in the anyway what so ever

    From Jamie, on Thu 22 Oct 5:44PM
  2. Van Gaal is not making it happen!

    From Jo, on Thu 22 Oct 1:01PM
  3. Comment # 1
    you're an idi ot

    From Jo, on Thu 22 Oct 1:01PM
  4. Why dint Chamark take his own penalties???

    From Ian, on Thu 22 Oct 7:28AM
  5. hey tirpiz u hitler look alike or whatever u scum r­ ......i have been noticing a lot of @#$% uve been­ spouting about Chelsea on other blogs.....guess ur­ stupid Bayern and other pathetic German teams are­ alomst out....maybe u should set ur house in order u­ bloody Nazi inbred scum......go and­ f.u.c................k urself!

    From Rushad, on Thu 22 Oct 7:02AM
  6. FORGET THE MIGHTY BAYERN FROM THE EARLY 2000'S..­ THEY ARE USELESS NOWADAYS!!!

    From Vítor, on Thu 22 Oct 3:04AM
  7. Luca Toni is useless

    From tom h, on Wed 21 Oct 11:53PM
  8. UEFA MAFIOSI!!!

    From nikola85nikola, on Wed 21 Oct 11:52PM
  9. unfair red cards ????? of course, they were justified­ !! and Van Bommel could have been send off also.

    From Rig, on Wed 21 Oct 10:48PM
  10. Tsis article looks like a Sun's article. Always­ claiming that England is going to be world champions,­ trying to be clever on the way to play brasilian­ football (as England and Uk clubs do all the time, of­ course) and prentending that some news are going to be­ served, however through long dated frustrations.­ It's a unfortunate that you consider football as a­ way to confirm that you don't like people around­ you, notably on the continent. Just travel a bit, and­ try to feel a bit more at ease with youself. Claiming­ being the best every time you score a goal is a bit­ sad. Your country has been great enough for centuries­ to avoid this.

    From igordupuy, on Wed 21 Oct 10:36PM
  11. 2 unfair red cards, but who cares :-)

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 21 Oct 10:05PM
  12. COME ON BAYERN MUNCICH

    From TIRPITZ, on Wed 21 Oct 10:05PM
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