Weary Bordeaux slump to shock defeat

Defending champions Bordeaux slumped to a shock first loss of the season on Saturday when Saint Etienne handed Laurent Blanc’s weary side a 3-1 defeat.

Missing their influential midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, who suffered a thigh injury in the midweek 1-0 Champions League win over Maccabi Haifa, it was also Bordeaux’s first defeat since a 3-0 reverse against Toulouse on March 7.

Blanc, desperate to keep his stars fresh for the domestic and European campaigns, also left Morocco striker Maroune Chamakh and Brazilian midfielder Wendel on the bench for Saturday’s trip.

Saint Etienne, buoyed by a 2-1 win at Monaco last weekend which lifted them into mid-table, were ahead after just eight minutes with a headed goal from Augusto Fernandez.

Araujo Ilan made it 2-0 on the half-hour mark with Bordeaux’s Brazilian import Jussie pulling a goal back from the penalty spot in the second half.

But Saint Etienne wrapped up the three points in stoppage time when Dimitri Payet unleashed a 35-metre screamer.

Bordeaux stay top of the table with 19 points, but they will slip to second place later Saturday if Lyon beat Lens.

Montpellier are third after a 3-2 win at rock-bottom Grenoble who have lost all of their eight league matches.

Victor Montano and Nenad Dzodic gave Montpellier a 2-0 lead after just 13 minutes before Daniel Ljuboja reduced the deficit early in the second half.

Dzodic extended Montpellier’s lead in the 49th minute with Nicolas Dieuze’s injury-time strike coming too late to halt Grenoble’s miserable run.

Paris St Germain are fifth, six points behind Bordeaux, after a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes against Nancy.

Youssouf Hadji put Nancy into a 13th minute lead before Stephane Sessegnon levelled five minutes later.

The result meant PSG, who harbour hopes of the title, have now collected three points in their last four league games.