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Bordeaux peut-il être l'un des réprésentants français en phase finale des compétitions européennes ? L'espoir est en tout cas permis pour des Girondins qui semblent moins friables qu'au début de saison. Remontée à bloc la formation girondine doit pouvoir le faire au Danemark !
Group C was always going to be competitive, but both Copenhagen and Bordeaux would’ve hoped to be in better position ahead of match-day six. Either one could still make the knockouts with a win in this fixture, though their fate depends on what Slavia Prague do against the already qualified Zenit.
Having come out on top (away from home) in the reverse fixture, it is Copenhagen who ought to come into this fixture feeling confident. Ståle Solbakken’s men won by two goals to one away in France on match-day two, though the French side won’t be feeling too down, as they were the better side on that occasion.
When the teams met in France, Copenhagen did win, but they were perhaps fortunate to do so. Bordeaux dominated in all areas, including expected goals for, but they were made to pay for a lack of end-product. If they take their shooting boots with them to Denmark, then there’s hope for the visitors, that’s for sure.
The main reason as to why Copenhagen find themselves needing a win in this final match is the fact that they’ve struggled to make things happen offensively, even on their own patch. Thursday’s hosts have scored just one goal in two home Europa League games this season. They did OK when scoring and clocking a modest 1.39 expected goals for against Zenit, but they looked all out of idea against Slavia Prague last time out. On that occasion, Solbakken’s men failed to score, and deservedly so since they managed to put forward just 0.11 expected goals for.
In contrast, Bordeaux have looked useful from an offensive point of view in recent UEL matches. They scored twice against Slavia Prague last time out, posting an encouraging 2.01 expected goals for, while they clocked 2.13 against Zenit last time out. They only managed 1.19 away against Zenit, but that’s still far better that Copenhagen’s last effort at home.
Moreover, the French side showed that they had the tools to get at Copenhagen in the previous fixture, while they ought to be aided by the fact that Thursday’s hosts are now forced to be more expansive, as they too require nothing short of a win.
Given the performances of both in Group C, coupled with how they fared against each other in the reverse fixture, it’s easy to make a case for the visitors at the prices. In recent games, it is Bordeaux who’ve looked far more capable offensively, while they’ll now get to play against a Copenhagen side who’ll have no choice but to be more expansive.