Bordeaux title hopes suffer jolt

French league champions and Champions League second phase participants Bordeaux saw their hopes of another domestic crown suffer a setback as they went down 2-0 at Lille on Sunday.

The loss left Lyon, the side Laurent Blanc’s men dislodged last season after seven championship wins on the bounce, with every hope of snatching top spot as they prepared for a late tussle with Marseille.

Bordeaux have 25 points from 12 matches but this third reverse of the campaign following second-half goals from Yohan Cabaye and Florent Balmont from the penalty spot hinted at signs of fatigue after the midweek win at Bayern Munich which ensured European progress.

That win will at least bolster the coffers in case Blanc feels the need to strengthen his squad for a serious assault on silverware at home and abroad.

The opening goal came on 70 minutes after Lille had soaked up spells of early pressure from the leaders, despite the absence of Brazilian wizard Wendel.

Pierre-Alain Frau combined well with Gervinho and although the former’s result was blocked Cabaye bundled home the rebound.

Balmont’s spot kick three minutes from time after Mickael Ciani brought down Guinean forward Larsen Toure with Cedric Carrasso helpless to keep out the clincher.

A chance in either half from Marouane Chamakh was the nearest the visitors came to eking out a result.

Also Sunday, Toulouse beat Rennes 3-2 to join Lorient and Montpellier on 21 points and cement their hopes of a top six placing.

On Saturday, strugglers Grenoble avoided equalling Manchester United’s European club record losing streak of 12 matches when they drew 0-0 at Monaco to register their first point of the season.

Grenoble remain seven points behind second bottom Le Mans, who went down at home 1-0 to high-riding Auxerre.

Manchester United, ironically for their later successes, set the record poor start in England in the 1930-31 season in which they eventually finished last and were relegated.

Paris Saint Germain show no sign of being able to rise to prominence 15 years on from their last league title.

Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Nice came after a last-gasp sucker punch goal at the Parc des Princes from Loic Remy meaning PSG drop out of the top ten with Nice leapfrogging them.

Lorient bolstered their hopes of a campaign for a European place after swatting fourth-bottom Boulogne 5-0.