Lyon v Bordeaux - as it happened

Good evening. This is unchartered territory for Lyon and Bordeaux, but the familiarity both sides will have of each other should ensure neither suffer from altitude sickness. The last eight of the Champions League has been an exclusive club over the past few years - one French side reaching it was a surprise, two almost unthinkable. This should be what the Champions League is all about though. Who wants to see another tie between Chelsea and Liverpool, even if last year's was pulsating. Even ten years ago, the Champions League had a little je ne sais quoi to it, so this is a match that should restore a little mystery to the tournament. Snobbery from narrow minds is often prevalent when two unfancied sides battle their way into the latter stages of a tournament, but no one should make the mistake of putting down Lyon or Bordeaux. Both are accomplished outfits. Lyon have knocked out Liverpool (effectively) and Real Madrid, while Bordeaux finished top of a group that contained Bayern Munich and Juventus, and beat Olympiakos in the last round, even winning in Greece. Some might think that their presence offers Manchester United an easy route to the final. Anyone who does may end up feeling very silly over the next month or so. Team news: Lyon: Lloris; Reveillere, Cris, Bodmer, Cissokho; Makoun, Toulalan; Delgado, Pjanic, Michel Bastos; Lopez. Subs: Vercoutre, Boumsong, Kallstrom, Ederson, Govou, Gomis, Gonalons. Bordeaux: Carrasso; Chalme, Sane, Ciani, Tremoulinas; Plasil, Fernando; Gouffran, Gourcuff, Wendell; Chamakh. Subs: Rame, Henrique, Jurietti, Cavenaghi, Jussie, Bellion, Placente. Referee: Felix Brych (Germany) A great past does not always herald a sparkling present. Countless players have shone during their careers, only to fail in management. The list is extensive, and we are currently seeing Gianfranco Zola struggle at West Ham and Roy Keane's dog is on the verge of a severe walking in lieu of his master having a job. But Laurent Blanc is an exception to the rule. Top clubs around Europe are directing covetous glances at the Bordeaux manager, who of course helped France to wins in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. The next Manchester United manager? Possibly. His side won Ligue 1 last year, and are sitting pretty at the top of the league this year, two points ahead of Montepellier having played two games less. Bordeaux are hardly cavalier. They have only conceded three goals in eight games in the Champions League this year, but they are not regular scorers. Indeed on the domestic scene, Marouane Chamakh is their top scorer with a mere nine goals. Keep an eye out for him tonight, with his next destination possibly Arsenal this summer - and also the prodigiously talented playmaker, Yoann Gourcuff. But I've got a sneaky feeling Lyon are going to go through. Why? Maybe it's because I've seen them more this year - and they were excellent at Anfield and the Bernabeu - but I do feel their players may prove to be a tad more experienced at the highest level. Lisandro Lopez and Aly Cissokho, of course, went out at this stage against Manchester United last year while with Porto. Lyon are only fifth in the French league, but knock-out ties between clubs from the same country don't always go the way of the favourites. Think Chelsea against Arsenal in 2004, Liverpool against Chelsea in 2005 and 2007, even Valencia against Barcelona in 2000. But whichever way this goes, just be grateful for the French renaissance. Hopefully it won't be followed by the big clubs pillaging their squads in the summer. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em, and so on. An early email from Robert Smithson: "Possibly the two greatest European nights in the histories of both clubs: Bordeaux overturning a 0-2 deficit in their 1996 Uefa Cup semi-final second leg . They won 3-0. Dugarry, Zidane and Lizarazu all got big money moves soon after this. Lyon demolishing Real Madrid by the same score a few years back . The third goal was a thing of beauty. The teams have emerged from the tunnels to a rapturous reception in the Stade Gerland - and are treated to the Champions League anthem. Wouldn't it be nice if, just once, we saw a player actually singing along to this eponymous tune? Respect Uefa. This referee, Felix Brych, was in charge of the first leg of Ireland's World Cup play-off against France by the way. I won't dredge up any painful memories for anyone though. There really is a crackling atmosphere tonight. Peep! And we're off, Lyon in their navy kit, kicking from right to left get us underway. Bordeaux are all in red. Immediately Jean Makoun gives away a foul for a trip on Matthieu Chalme in Bordeaux's half. 1 min: A tight start, with Chalme knocking the ball down the right hand channel for Chamakh to chase. The ball has too much zip on it though and it drifts out for a Lyon goal-kick. 3 min: Yoann Gourcuff is limping a little - I'm not sure why, but let's hope he's ok. It's a very physical opening with both sides putting in a few hefty challenges. Both sides are getting to know each other, but not much to report in the way of free-flowing football so far. It's 1-0 to Manchester United in Munich already. Goals may not be on the agenda here. 4 min: Bordeaux are enjoying the lion's share of possession but are not doing much with it. Chamakh has been unable to hold the ball up well yet. Bordeaux's Tremoulinas attempts to burst down the left flank but runs the ball out of play for a Lyon throw-in. 6 min: A long ball causes problems in Lyon's defence, with Gouffran and Chamakh lurking. The ball ricochets off Gouffran and runs into the path of Chamakh on the left of the area but his shot is tame - and a free-kick had already been given as the ball reached him via Gouffran's arm. Everyone knows you're not allowed to do that. 7 min: It's a little agricultural so far and very tight. Long ball is the order of the game, as Cris hoofs the ball up field under pressure from Chamakh. 8 min: Lyon want a handball after Delgado's cross is deflected behind for a corner by Tremoulinas. Nothing doing, and the corner is excellently punched away by Carrasso. The clearance sets up a counter-attack for Bordeaux, but Gourcuff's pass is too long for Chamakh and Hugo Lloris is quick off his line to hack the ball clear. Goal! Lyon 1-0 Bordeaux (Lisandro Lopez, 10) That was a horrific mistake from the Bordeaux defender Ciani and Lyon have an early and potentially crucial breakthrough. Fernando's foul on Lisandro 30 yards from goal gave Lyon a free-kick, which Miralem Pjanic thumped into the wall. The ball was hoofed back by Lyon and headed straight into the path of Mathieu Bodmer by Ciani when he only had to clear. Bodmer, from the right of the area, slammed the ball across goal and Lisandro was on hand to flick the ball in from six yards out. 12 min: The Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso required attention after taking a knock after going up in the air in a challenge with Lopez. He's just had the wind knocked out of his sails though, and is fine to continue. GOAL! Lyon 1-1 Bordeaux (Marouane Chamakh, 14) What a response from Bordeaux, and they've got their away goal. Yoann Gourcuff tricked his way down the left wing. Near the touchline he cut the ball back on to his left foot and sent Toulalan sliding away, crossed the ball and there was Chamakh, in between two Lyon defenders and six yards out, to head the ball into the bottom corner. There was nothing Lloris could do, but it was woeful defending. 16 min: This really is a committed match. Now Bodmer goes sliding in on Fernando, who's not shy of a tackle himself, and leaves him in a heap. 17 min: Lopez threatens again, chasing a long ball alongside Ciani and forcing Carrasso to race out of his area and volley the ball away. 19 min: Bordeaux had a great chance there on the counter. Chamakh had acres of space to pick out the overlapping Gouffran but his pass lacked accuracy. He acknowledges the mistake and knows he should have been better. This match is surprisingly open - in an instant, Lyon attack, Michel Bastos cutting in from the right and curling a left-footed shot a couple of yards wide. 20 min: "I'm going for Bordeaux to win over the two legs," says Charles Davies. "I recently put in an article saying that Bordeaux could do what Liverpool did in 2005. A solid if unspectacular defence, one stand out midfielder (Gourcuff) and some other useful players if nothing else. When you look at Liverpool's team from 2005, it's really nothing special either. Lyon's side is much better man for man but the way Blanc sends his teams out is very impressive. I'm sure you read Paul Doyle's article so anything I say pales into insignificance. The French league is pretty good at the moment so I hope it's a good game for you." I did read Paul Doyle's article. It was very good. 21 min: I imagine Laurent Blanc is feeling somewhat better after Bordeaux's early concession. It goes without saying that a quick response was vital, and to equalise within four minutes was most impressive. 22 min: Gourcuff's corner from the left is poorly dealt with by Lyon and finds Jaroslav Plasil at the far post. The Czech midfielder might have headed towards goal, but instead opted to direct the ball back into the six yard box where it is eventually cleared with not too much poise by Lyon. 24 min: An escape for Bordeaux. Bastos's fairly straight through ball makes a mockery of Bordeaux's defensive line and finds Cesar Delgado, whose shot is blocked by Carrasso. He should have scored though. Immediately Bordeaux broke and Chamakh's cross-shot from the left is flicked towards goal by Gouffran, bringing a superb reaction save out of Lloris, at the expense of a corner. 27 min: A succession of corners from the right from Lyon are eventually brought to an end after Anthony Reveillere's foul. And breathe. This is a remarkably open game, for which I imagine neither manager had planned. 29 min: A brilliant piece of skill from Michel Bastos comes to nothing, dashing after a ball and picking it up just as it was about to drift out - he flicked it past Ciani but was unable to stop it running out. 30 min: Michel Bastos thought he was through on goal. The linesman's flag dashes his and Lyon's hopes however. GOAL! Lyon 2-1 Bordeaux (Michel Bastos, 32) Are we sure that Bordeaux had only conceded three goals? Pjanic bustles his way down the left hand side and stands up a ball to the far post. It should have been headed away by the left-back Tremoulinas, but he completely missed his header - and there was Bastos, who took a touch, shifted the ball on to his left foot, and smashed the ball past an exposed Carrasso. Bordeaux's defence has been a joke. 34 min: Lyon are rampant. Bastos popped up on the left this time and whipped in a low cross, which was flicked into Delgado's path by Lisandro. The Argentinian's side-footed effort crashed against the bar - but he was just offside. 35 min: Bordeaux must sort out that defensive line or Lyon will score again. Lisandro was oh so nearly through, but was a mere millimetre offside. 36 min: "Pleased to see Laurent Blanc doing well - he's a proper football man," says Gary Naylor. "He missed the 1998 World Cup Final as a result of Slaven Bilic's cynical fakery, a man whose ludicrously over-rated management is being found out. West Ham fans remember the Croatian well, but Evertonians don't." He's not doing too well so far tonight, Monsieur Naylor. 38 min: Lisandro is caught offside. Again. It's like watching an Argentinian Jermain Defoe (circa 2003). 39 min: Marouane Chamakh's effort, 20 yards from goal, is hard and true but straight at Lloris, who deals with it in the manner you would expect of a top international goalkeeper. Note: not like David James. 41 min: Both strikers, Lisandro and Chamakh, are attempting to break the offside trap with regularity. Chamakh has an anguished look on his face after being pulled up as he ran on to Chalme's chipped pass. He was probably on there. 43 min: Apologies if the commentary gets a tad slow at times - I'm experiencing a few technical problems. 44 min: Bastos looks like an exceptionally talented player. He cuts in from the left and with the outside of his left boot, directs a delicious pass towards Delgado, who is just unable to make something out of it. A shame, an inch here or there and we could have been looking at a third for Lyon. 45 min: Cesar Delgado dashed in from the right and unleashes a stinging shot which Carrasso holds on to well at his near post. And with that, the German referee blows for half-time after a scintillating 45 minutes. The players are out for the second half , Bordeaux's presumably suitably chastened after a rollicking from Laurent Blanc. Never trust a man who looks that calm. It's not possible. 46 min: Bordeaux resume the action - hopefully it will be as exciting as the first half, although I doubt the visitors can defend as poorly as they did before the interval. I'm not sure who Sky's co-commentator is, but he just called Lyon's manager, Claude Puel, 'Cloud Puel'. 47 min: Wendel, released by Chamakh, crosses the ball into the Lyon area from the left, but Cris is on hand to larrump the delivery away. 48 min: Fernando drifts a free-kick from the left all the way to Plasil on the far right side of the area. Plasil attempts to volley the ball across goal, but fails to beat the first Lyon defender. The ball runs to the edge of the area, where Chamakh scoops the ball well over the bar. 49 min: Cissokho bursts forward for Lyon, leaving Chalme for dead, and his clipped cross finds Delgado on the edge of the area. Unable to get a shot way, he attempted to tee up Pjanic, but Plasil stepped in to quell the danger. 51 min: Delgado, quick as you like, escapes Tremoulinas' attentions on the right, and with Lisandro and Bastos waiting to convert his low cross, Chalme covers well and clears for a corner, which Carrasso plucked out of the sky with ease. 53 min: Painful for Tremoulinas, who beat Reveillere to a loose ball and is unceremoniously dumped to the floor. The referee has dealt with this game in a calm and orderly manner. 55 min: Plasil's intelligent pass inside Reveillere sets Tremoulinas scampering away down the left, but his threatening cross is met by the head of Cris, rather than by anyone in a red shirt. 57 min: It's difficult to say where this result would leave both sides. Lyon must be aware that against such a rickety defence as Bordeaux's tonight, they could be capable of racking up a healthy lead, but I imagine they would also settle for even a slender advantage going into the second leg. Bordeaux have an away goal, but as they aren't a particularly adventurous side, would you trust them if they have to chase a deficit? 59 min: A good race between Bodmer and Chamakh is just about won by the former, who slides in to divert the ball away for a Bordeaux throw-in. From there, Gouffran charges up the right hand side to win a corner off the impressive Cissokho... 60 min: ... but Wendel's corner is missed by Ciani and Lyon hack the ball clear. Shortly afterwards, Plasil's inswinger from the right has the Lyon defence in a somewhat nervous state - but without anyone able to get a touch on it, it drifts out for a goal-kick. Bordeaux are beginning to exert some control on this first leg now. 61 min: What a superb save from Lloris! That was absolutely brilliant from the France number one. As I said, Bordeaux really are beginning to dominate and Chalme's dangerous cross is just about met by Chamakh, who awkwardly lifted up his right leg to volley the ball powerfully with the side of his right boot. With Lloris going to his right, the ball goes to his left and somehow he manages to spring up and claw it from harm's way. What agility. 62 min: Wow. That's one of the saves of the season. Chamakh again tries his luck, but his shot from the edge of the area goes straight at Lloris this time. 65 min: It's all Bordeaux now, but Tremoulinas, who is attacking from left-back with great intent, crosses too close to Lloris. Lyon make their first changes, replacing the fairly anonymous Miralem Pjanic with the experienced Sidney Govou and the wonderful Michel Bastos with the Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom. 66 min: With Lyon starting to creak a little, I imagine the introduction of Govou and Kallstrom is intended to instil more solidity and experience in the side. After querying whether Lyon would be after more goals tonight, it looks like they'll settle for what they've got already. 68 min: Gourcuff's free-kick from the right is a tad too high and despite there being a throng of players around Lloris in the six-yard box, the goalkeeper is able to punch the ball away. 69 min: Makoun fluffs the chance to extend Lyon's lead. A pass - I'm not sure who from - finds him six yards from goal, but he was unable to get the ball out of his feet, and Carrasso made a scrambling save. 70 min: That would have been controversial - Gourcuff looked like he handled the ball to set up a shot for Wendel. Nothing was given, and from 16 yards out, Wendel smashed a brilliant, swerving volley with his left foot against the bar with Lloris well beaten. 71 min: Wendel was desperately unlucky not to score with that volley. Anyway it was his last contribution for the night, Laurent Blanc sending on the forward, Jussie, in his place. 74 min: Sidney Govou will miss the return leg after being booked for a late tackle on Chalme, who performs the requisite roll for good measure. 75 min: Stat alert: Bordeaux are enjoying 60% of possession now. 76 min: PENALTY FOR LYON! GOAL! Lyon 3-1 Bordeaux (Lisandro pen, 77) Lisandro confidently sends Carrasso the wrong way, the goalkeeper going to his right, the ball to his left. The penalty was immensely harsh and something of a ricket by the referee. Cissokho's shot was blocked by the hand of Chalme, but he was sliding and had no idea where the ball was. It was ball to hand and in no way should it have been awarded. 79 min: With Bordeaux still seething after that very questionable decision, Lyon nearly put the entire tie to bed. Cissokho again skips past the ponderous Chalme and his cross is volleyed wide by Govou at the far post. Carrasso stood still - Govou should have scored. 80 min: And now there's a booking for Lisandro, and he too will miss the next match. Something for Bordeaux to cling on to, but again it was poor from the referee who may be looking to compensate the visitors. It was a foul on Chalme by Lisandro, sure, but it wasn't a booking. From the free-kick, Gourcuff's delivery is massively overhit. 82 min: Chalme's evening worsens further as he picks up an injury and is replaced by Henrique. 84 min: David Bellion - remember him? - replaces Gouffran. Ah Bellion, one of those rare brainmelts from Sir Alex Ferguson. 85 min: "It was ball to hand and in no way should it have been awarded," says Mark Ireland. "In the last ten minutes can we get a definitive ruling on this? Everyone always says "ball to hand" but is that written into the laws of the game in any way? I suspect however unfair it's not a consideration." It's a shame that the referee, who otherwise had a commendable game, got the biggest decision painfully wrong. And the Lisandro booking is a huge blow for Lyon too. 86 min: Lyon make their final change. Cesar Delgado off, Maxime Gonalons on. 87 min: Fernando has given away a host of free-kicks tonight, and bundles over Lisandro near the right corner flag. Effectively a corner this, and Kallstrom's left-footed delivery is deflected behind by Ciani at the near post - but a goal-kick, rather than a corner, is awarded. 88 min: Bordeaux are manfully trying to snatch that second away goal. They're struggling to break through however, Cissokho heading away a Gourcuff free-kick. Gourcuff, the Bordeaux goal aside, has been hugely disappointing tonight. 89 min: Kallstroms sets Lisandro away on the left, but Ciani gets in the way of his attempted cross and concedes a corner. The first one, delivered by Kallstrom, is deflected behind for another. Again Kallstrom whips it in and from eight yards out, Makoun heads towards goal. Luckily for Bordeaux Tremoulians, standing by the right post, was able to clear the ball off the line. 90 min: There will be just two minutes of stoppage time - and possibly just two minutes for Bordeaux to rescue their Champions League campaign. "Surely something has to be done about the yellow card suspension rule," argues Hugh Ronyan. "There is no reason teams should be missing important first team players a champions league knockout tie unless some serious infraction has been committed. Govou and Lisandro for Lyon, Schweinsteiger for Bayern, and probably others as well. It's ridiculous, we "pay" (steal from the internet) to watch these games and some of the best players in the world are forced out of participating? What would happen if Messi had to miss the final, or Wayne Rooney, or both?" Peep! Peep! Peep! The final whistle is blown and Lyon have a 3-1 lead over Bordeaux after the first leg. I'd say that Lyon just about deserved to triumph in this game. They were excellent in the first half and could have been more than one goal to the good at half-time. Lisandro and Michel Bastos, in particular, were unplayable at times. Bordeaux, shambolic as they were in defence, will be somewhat miffed though. The penalty for Lyon's third goal never was, although they will draw hope from Chamakh's away goal and the fact that Lisandro will be suspended at Bordeaux. All in all, it makes for an intriguing second leg next Wednesday. Thanks for reading, good night.