Blanc unconcerned by rusty Bordeaux
PARIS - Leaders Girondins Bordeaux visit bottom club Grenoble on Wednesday with coach Laurent Blanc unconcerned by a rusty performance against Olympique Marseille in their first Ligue 1 match of the year on Sunday.
A controversial 1-1 draw at home to Marseille left last season's champions seven points ahead of second-placed Lille, with Marseille in fourth, 11 points off the pace.
"We didn't lose, that's the main thing, and Marseille are still quite a long way back, which is important," Blanc quietly told reporters after an eventful game.
The home side moved in front with a disputed own goal just before halftime, Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda sending the ball into his net under pressure from Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh, who clearly pushed him.
Bordeaux then had defender Marc Planus sent off for a dangerous tackle on Mamadou Niang and Marseille equalised with a superb late volley by midfielder Benoit Cheyrou.
"I won't talk about the refereeing, I'll let Marseille do that," Blanc added. "This game came a bit too early for us, just after the break, that's all, but I can't reproach my players."
Marseille, who host strugglers Le Mans on Saturday, were furious after a match they felt they deserved to win.
"We have plenty of reasons to feel frustrated and angry," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told reporters. "Taking a point at Bordeaux is not bad but we should have taken two more."
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Lille, who visit lowly Sochaux on Wednesday, have won their last eight games in domestic and European competition, scoring at least three goals in each.
"Things are working well for us at the moment with plenty of confidence in the team but there are still a few things we can improve," Lille coach Rudi Garcia told reporters after a 3-1 victory over Paris St Germain on Saturday.