Bordeaux hits top spot

Bordeaux hits top spot

Bordeaux remain at the top of the Ligue 1 table after victory over rock-bottom Grenoble but it was far from the thrashing that everyone expected.

Yoan Gourcuff's 18th minute strike proved to be the only goal in the match between the top and bottom sides.

The hosts obviously had one eye on their Champions League opener against Juventus and were nowhere near their best against a spirited Grenoble team.

Nevertheless, Grenoble remain rooted to the foot of the table having lost all five of their opening matches, while the defending champions are two points clear of Lyon.

Grenoble had the first decent chance of the match, in the 15th minute, but Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso pulled off a good save to deny Laurent Courtois.

And the hosts took the lead just three minutes later when Marouane Chamakh headed on Marc Planus' long ball to Gouffran who drilled it past goalkeeper Jody Viviani.

Grenoble should have gone in at the break on level terms as first Carrasso kept out Laurent Battles' powerful effort before his punch clear from another effort fell to an unmarked Nicolas Dieuze who somehow failed to put the ball into an empty goal.

Gouffran could have doubled his tally four minutes after the interval but he saw his superb volley from Yoann Gourcuff's cross fly narrowly wide of the right upright.

Gourcuff also went close on the hour mark only to send his effort inches past the left post.

Viviani was also instrumental in keeping Bordeaux at bay and he pulled off two fine saves in the final 20 minutes to deny first Wendel and then Chamakh.

Grenoble almost snatched a late draw as Battles released Nassim Akrour who outpaced Frank Jurietti only to be denied by an excellent reflex save from Carrasso.