The match: 1-1
Saint-Étienne could not get out of 17th place against Bordeaux. The Greens have even passed very close to the correctional. Against the course of the match, they were led just after the hour of play. On an overflow from Kalu, Kolodziejczak poorly controlled the ball in the area. Saliba couldn’t get away from his head. Maja emerged and scored at close range from the right (0-1, 65th).
But the Stéphanois quickly reacted under the impulse of Boudebouz. The attacking midfield found Bouanga in the box. On the verge of offside, the former Nîmes threw himself to beat Costil with a diving head and equalize (1-1, 69th). Enough to reward Saint-Etienne domination. But it was quickly annihilated by the expulsion of Camara (75th). Puel’s tactical rearrangements then pushed the Greens to preserve this point more than to seek victory.
Bordeaux was good to take. The Girondins have long shown no offensive ambition except by Hwang after coming into play (74th, 85th). In the first period, the finalists of the Coupe de France had control but with only one dangerous action. Under the impetus of Boudebouz, author of a good change of wing for Bouanga, the left wing from Stéphane served behind Aholou. But the strike from the middle of the Greens was deviated from the foot by Costil (18th).
At the start of the game, a head of Debuchy had also been removed by Otavio in front of his goal line (3rd). Otherwise, the first forty-five minutes were sterile and of an appalling technical poverty on the Bordeaux side where the only half-opportunity was a strike next to Adli (6th). In the second half, Aholou had another opportunity (56th). But the midfielder again failed on Costil in the same way as in the first period with a poorly pressed shot on the Bordeaux goalkeeper. With this draw well paid, the Girondins remain in the very soft belly of L1 (12th).
The player: Boudebouz, the green ray
The Algerian international has just finished a great week. Already the author of the goal of qualifying for the final of the Coupe de France against Rennes (2-1), the Stéphanois midfielder was on the baton against Bordeaux. Claude Puel had decided to establish him against the Girondins on the momentum of his decisive entry into play last Thursday, against the Bretons. The former Sochalien was in all – good – shots Stéphanois and especially in the decisive pass for the equalization of Bouanga (69th). It was he who served as a center lobbed his sidekick for a superb diving head (69th, 1-1).
Boudebouz tried to energize his team from the start of the game to get his partners out of lethargy. His technical gestures (small subtle bridge over Otavio, 9th), his numerous provocations on his right side or his side changes (18th, for the best opportunity of the Greens in the first period by Aholou) would have deserved much better. His return to form is a green ray for Stéphanois in the fight for maintenance. He was replaced by Diousse (83rd) after the expulsion of Camara to keep the draw.
The fact: Camara’s expulsion
While the Greens had just equalized and had largely the control, Mahdi Camara was stupidly expelled (75th). Midfielder received a second warning after a first yellow in the 23rd minute. This red is logical and due to the technical clumsiness of Stéphanois. After missing control of an easy ball, he arrived late on Hwang.
This youthful error penalized the Greens. Claude Puel had to manage the score by leaving notably Boudebouz for the benefit of Assane Diousse to strengthen his environment. Camara also missed an opportunity in the first half of an overly crossed strike (27th).