Stalemate between Bordeaux and Caen

Girondins de Bordeaux 0-0 SM Caen

THE MATCH

All but out of the Europa League following a draw with Zenit St. Petersburg on Thursday evening, Bordeaux were frustrated by a diligent Caen display and are without a home victory over their opponents from Normandy since November 2011. François Kamano, Bordeaux’s top scorer with seven league goals this season, had good chances at the end of either half (36′ and 90+3′) and spurned both of them.

After a drab first half-hour, watched by Joe DaGrosa of the new owners and incoming president Frédéric Longuépée, Nigerian international Samuel Kalu (32′) set the pulses racing with a shot on target. The summer signing from Gent then turned provider for the chance of the period (36′) as he crossed from the right and Kamano slammed a volley just wide of Brice Samba’s goal.

Caen emerged as an attacking force at the start of the second half as Claudio Beauvue (55′) threatened with a header from a Fayçal Fajr free-kick and then home goalkeeper Benoît Costil had to tip over an effort that seemed to come off both visiting defender Alexandre Djiku and home left-back Maxime Poundjé (57′).

Ricardo and Eric Bédouet threw on Andreas Cornelius and Nicolas De Préville to try to spice up the Bordeaux attack. Right-back Sergi Palencia (74′) hit one on target but the chance to win it came right at the end of proceedings as De Préville unselfishly squared for Kamano, whose first time shot was well saved by Samba (90+3′).

THE PLAYER: Frédéric Guilbert

Shifted from right-back to centre-half as Paul Baysse – on loan from Bordeaux – was ineligible under a gentleman’s agreement between the two clubs, Guilbert was outstanding on his return to the club where he came up through the youth system before making 36 Ligue 1 Conforama appearances for Les Girondins. That Caen scored their second league clean sheet in four outings was in a large part due to the 23-year-old’s assured display.

THE STAT: 5

Bordeaux have now failed to score in five of their last six Ligue 1 Conforama meetings with Caen.

>> Teamsheet