Bordeaux, A Tough Nut to Crack

Bordeaux finished last season in 7th place, 28 points behind PSG.
And PSG have been big spenders last season, and this season, too.

So, clearly, the Parisians were favoured to win the Super Cup, as title holders and the strongest team in the league.

But Bordeaux played very well.
And they made it 1-0 in the 38th minute, when the PSG defense was caught wrong-footed by Maurice-Belay's smart cross which Henri Saivet headed in easily (while also making Sirigu look foolish).

Only a very inspired pass by Ibrahimovic, behind the Bordeaux defensive line, in the 82nd minute, reminded people of the PSG superiority in Ligue 1 last year. Ongenda made good use, and the score became 1-1.

And then, unfortunately for Bordeaux and their hard work, luck favoured the big team very late in the match. It was the 5th minute of injury time (even though there were only supposed to be 4 extra minutes), when Alex stunned everybody with a perfect header following a free kick by Lucas. Goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso had no reaction.

So, PSG players can count their lucky stars for winning their first trophy of the new season. How many more will there be for Laurent Blanc's men?

Highlights:

France - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Paris Saint-Germain --> Champions League Group Stage
Olympique Marseille --> Champions League Group Stage
Olympique Lyon(nais) --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
OGC Nice --> Europa League Play-off Round
Saint-Etienne --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Girondins Bordeaux --> Europa League Group Stage

Comedies of Errors from the Top Two in France

Both Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais got quite a beating on Sunday.

At 14:00 CET, at Valenciennes, Marseille seemed to have forgotten how to defend. The first goal, scored by Danic in the 16th minute, showed their inability to defend free kicks. And the second (in minute 34) and fourth (63), scored by Le Tallec, made their defensive marking look very poor. But it was Mandanda's amazing blunder (39) that truly made Marseille look like an amateur side.

So, one of the three remaining teams with a perfect record in their respective leagues falters. (And badly.) Barcelona and Bayern remain.

Seven hours after Marseille screwed up so badly, Lyon, formerly second in the standings, faltered, too. Their players were probably irritated by their own inability to break down Bordeaux's defenses as time was winding down.

In the 65th minute, Lyon defender Lovren deflected a ball past his own goalkeeper (while seeming quite worried about not handling the ball but not at all aware that not blocking the ball with all your might could spell trouble for those behind you).
In any case, Bordeaux went up 1-0, and they would not give that up.

On the contrary, they got a second goal, in the 82nd minute, when two Lyon defenders failed to intervene properly and Diabate was able to get in a header that sneaked past the goalkeeper and the bemused defenders.

So, this was a big matchday for Paris Saint-Germain, it seems.
Ancelotti's team now sits only three points behind Marseille, and one ahead of Lyon. They are in second, of course.

Highlights from Valenciennes - Marseille:


See highlights from Lyon - Bordeaux here.

France - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2012-2013

Montpellier HSC --> Champions League Group Stage
Paris Saint-Germain --> Champions League Group Stage
Lille OSC --> Champions League Play-off Round
Olympique Lyon(nais) --> Europa League Group Stage
Girondins Bordeaux --> Europa League Play-off Round
Olympique Marseille --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round

A Hell of a Week for PSG

Paris Saint-Germain failed to get the win again, in front of their home fans, this time in the Ligue 1.

After being ousted by Lyon in the Coupe de France, on Wednesday, Ancelotti's team is now no longer top in the French league, either. The draw against Bordeaux at home put the Parisian team on only 60 points, the same number of points as Montpellier, but the latter has a better goal difference.

Bordeaux also scored first at the Parc des Princes, when Maurice-Belay opened the scoring in the 77th minute, but the lead only lasted roughly four minutes, as prolific forward Hoarau tied the score with a cheeky shot that squeezed beneath the Bordeaux goalkeeper.

Carlo Ancelotti has some serious work to do, apparently.

Lille has also gotten somewhat closer to the leaders, too. They are on 53 points now.

See highlights here.

The Match That Changed the Leader

PSG scored a (minor) victory, a draw and a loss today.

It may sound incredible, but one could certainly argue for all three.
The last-gasp equalizer from the in-form striker Guillaume Hoarau, to make it 4-4 at Stade Gerland, was celebrated as a victory by the Parisian players and staff.
On the other hand, failing to win in Lyon means PSG loses their first-place position, in favour of excellent Montpellier, who managed to get its fifth win in six previous matches today.
The draw, of course, is the actual score.

A very honourable mention should go to Hoarau, who also scored against Montpellier last week, again in the dying moments of the game. That's one player who delivers!

But, although they showed great tenacity to get the point with literally seconds left on the clock, PSG players played a poor game today.
They allowed three goals in six minutes, between minutes 34 and 40, which ruined the game for them.

And Paris Saint-Germain's defense mechanism was a terrible disappointment. (Not even to mention that their attackers missed a sitter or two, or maybe even three, in the second half.)

In addition, Lyon is no longer a team to be feared terribly, as perhaps they were three or four years ago. Caen beat them, in Lyon, just two weeks ago. And Caen is struggling, below mid-table.

So, basically, Paris SG did badly. Ancelotti did badly. And PSG is now second.
It's up to Montpellier now to build on their momentum.

Watch highlights from Lyon - PSG 4-4 here.
Highlights from Montpellier - Bordeaux 1-0: