Historic French duo in fight for Ligue 1 survival


Paris (AFP) – Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux have received a combined 16 French league titles, but two of French football’s most prosperous golf equipment obtain themselves rooted in a deep malaise and experiencing the grim prospect of relegation this time.
Beset by financial complications aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic and accusations of mismanagement, Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux occupy the base two spots in Ligue 1 with just five wins in between them.
French champions a file 10 periods, Saint-Etienne’s dominance of the 1960s and 1970s is a distant memory. Les Verts also reached the 1976 European Cup closing but a economic scandal despatched the club into no cost-tumble in the 1980s.
That decrease coincided with Bordeaux’s return to prominence for the duration of a decade in which they lifted a few league trophies. The golden time period was to conclude though with administrative relegation in 1991 over big debts.
Bordeaux earned rapid marketing again to the best tier the next year, and have due to the fact claimed two more Ligue 1 titles — in 1999 and 2009.
But the club has been drifting on the area for some time and was positioned into administration final calendar year after its US-based mostly owners King Avenue pulled the plug on their expenditure.
Les Girondins flirted with relegation just before successful their final two online games to keep up, but their protection was not assured right up until previous Lille operator Gerard Lopez concluded a takeover of the club in July.
Renewed optimism has promptly light and coach Vladimir Petkovic is fighting for his work going into this weekend’s game with Strasbourg.
Petkovic, who led Switzerland to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, last week been given general public backing from Lopez but then viewed his team capitulate 6- at Rennes — their heaviest Ligue 1 decline due to the fact 1986.
Thierry Henry is reportedly currently being regarded as as a likely substitute for a critical couple of months that could have lengthy-long lasting outcomes for a club in turmoil.
“I would not have imagined it these earlier seasons, but currently you have to encounter up to the actuality. We’re in a harmful scenario,” previous Bordeaux and France star Alain Giresse told L’Equipe.
“It wouldn’t just be a descent into Ligue 2 but potentially the stop of the club. We’re on incredibly hot coals.”
6 straight league defeats have remaining Saint-Etienne six points from safety, but Pascal Dupraz hopes Friday’s derby with Lyon can mark the get started of a restoration mission for a club up for sale considering that April.
“I consider we have a a single in two prospect of keeping up,” stated Dupraz, who was appointed final thirty day period right after the sacking of Claude Puel.
“Despite these 1st two defeats, at household additionally, it is not all over.”
Paris Saint-Germain, 11 points obvious at the prime, host Reims on Sunday, though second-placed Great go to Metz. Marseille perform absent to Lens on Saturday.
Participant to enjoy: Wissam Ben Yedder
The Monaco captain is the league’s joint-foremost scorer alongside Jonathan David of Lille in spite of 7 of his 20 appearances coming off the bench.
Returning from a Covid-19 lay-off, the France worldwide struck 2 times in the second 50 percent of a 4- win over Clermont final weekend –- the next time he has scored a brace as a substitute this time period.
Niko Kovac frequently left Ben Yedder out above considerations about his defensive contribution, but new mentor Philippe Clement thinks he will “thrive a great deal in the soccer we want to play”.
Crucial stats
26 – Lorient are winless in their previous 26 absent games in the leading flight, shedding 15 of these matches.
7 – Hatem Ben Arfa could look for his seventh distinctive club in Ligue 1 right after signing for Lille. He has previously played for Lyon, Marseille, Pleasant, PSG, Rennes and Bordeaux.
Fixtures (all occasions 1400 GMT except if mentioned)
Friday
Lyon v Saint-Etienne (2000)
Saturday
Brest v Lille (1600), Lens v Marseille (2000)
Sunday
Metz v Nice (1200), Angers v Troyes, Bordeaux v Strasbourg, Clermont v Rennes, Nantes v Lorient, Montpellier v Monaco (1605), Paris Saint-Germain v Reims (1945)