Girondins Bordeaux have failed their final test prior to the midweek Champions League meeting with Bayern. On Matchday 9 in Ligue 1, the French champions lost 1-0 to tenth-placed AJ Auxerre, their second league defeat on the spin. Bordeaux slip to third in the table, still only a point off leaders Olympique Lyon, who themselves suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Sochaux.
Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux side dominated the early exchanges against Auxerre, but had the wind taken out of their sails when Argentine striker Fernando Cavenaghi saw his 32nd-minute penalty beaten out by home keeper Sorin.
Auxerre eased into the driving seat after the break and applied increasing pressure to the Girondins rearguard. The only goal of the game fell on 72 minutes after Ciani felled Hengbart in the box, Valter Birsa converting the spot kick. Jelen might have doubled the advantage five minutes later but saw his shot rebound off the crossbar. “I’m very disappointed. We could easily have lost by more," a crestfallen Blanc commented.
Juve winless in four
In Serie A, Juventus’ winless run stretched to four fixtures after a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina, leaving Bayern’s Champions League group opponents four points adrift of leaders Inter. A 25,000 crowd at Stadio Olimpico saw the Tuscan visitors make the better start and take a fifth-minute lead through Manuel Vargas. Juve’s Brazil striker Amauri levelled on 19 minutes with his first goal in eight months, but although the men from Turin bossed the match afterwards, they were unable to find a way past Fiorentina keeper Alexander Frey a second time.
It was a much more positive story for Maccabi Haifa. On Matchday 6, the Israeli champions beat Hapoel Beer Sheva 3-1 and comfortably lead the table with a maximum 18 points, six clear of Hapoel Haifa. Vladimir Dabalishvili (10, 65) and Shlomi Arbeitman (27) netted for Maccabi, with Ohad Kadussi pulling one back on 17 minutes.
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