Bordeaux back on top of French pile

Bordeaux marched two points clear of the chasing pack in the French league on Sunday with a 3-0 win at modest Nancy to end a sticky run of two straight domestic losses.

Although Laurent Blanc’s Girondins have dominated their Champions League group at the expense of Juventus and Bayern Munich they had slipped up in their last league outings at Lille and against Valenciennes to leave the field clear to Auxerre.

But Auxerre’s 1-0 loss Saturday at Paris Saint Germain gave the southwesterners the chance to move back to the summit and they did not let the chance slip, with Brazilian pair Fernando and Wendel and Gouffran all hitting the target at the Stade Marcel Picot.

Bordeaux took their points tally to 28 from 14 games with Auxerre on 26, surprise package Lorient on 25 and Lyon – in action in the late match at home to Rennes on 25.

Coming off a midweek win over Juventus and already through to the knockout phase in Europe, Bordeaux were further cheered by Lorient dropping two points in a 2-2 draw with winless tailenders Grenoble.

Bordeaux had not scored a win over Nancy since the latter’s return to the top flight two seasons ago but after losing three of their last four encounters against the northerners they turned the tables and left their hosts hovering dangerously close to the drop zone.

Even more satisfying for Blanc would have been a win achieved at cruise control in the absence of French international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, still getting over a groin strain.

Blanc, a disciple of rotation most weeks, thus kept faith with the side which proved too strong for Juve.

Gouffran set up Fernando to bag the opener on 24 minutes and on the hour Wendel slalomed through the home defensive lines to make it 2-0.

Gouffran sealed the issue with a shot on the turn 15 minutes from the whistle.

Also Sunday, Le Mans and St Etienne parted 1-1 to leave Les Verts just outside the drop zone with a five-point cushion over their opponents.

On Saturday, an injury-time goal by Brazilian striker Eduardo earned Lens a 1-0 victory at home to Marseille on Saturday that prevented Didier Deschamps’ inconsistent side from moving to within a point of top spot.

Auxerre’s loss at PSG following Jeremy Clement’s fine second-half header – but the win was marred after the Parisians’ goalkeeper Gregory Coupet sustained a serious leg injury whiuch could keep him out for most of the rest of the season.

Former Lyon keeper Coupet’s left leg buckled underneath him after he caught his studs in the turf while making an 82nd-minute clearance and the former France international was stretchered off.

Coach Antoine Kombouare said he was unlikely to play again this season.

“It’s definitely a fracture of the left leg,” Kombouare said.

“He went straight to hospital and we’ll know more about how serious it is on Sunday. He’ll be unavailable for a long time and it will be very complicated (to get him back before the end of the season).”

The end of Auxerre’s seven-game winning streak irked coach Jean Fernandez.

“We’re disappointed that our run has come to an end,” said Fernandez. “We weren’t up to speed in the first half and Paris put us under a lot of pressure in the second.”