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Third-placed Bordeaux again showed they have the potential to clinch a Champions' League spot with a 1-0 triumph at home to Lille.
The visitors are of course involved in this year's edition of the showcase European tournament and may have had their thoughts on their crucial match away to Villarreal in midweek.
If so, this result will not help morale going into that game but in truth Claude Puel's men were probably worth a draw. They also had the first real chance as well, with Abdul Kader Keita blasting over an incredible 38 minutes into the encounter.
Most of the action was happening in midfield, with neither side able to take the upper-hand, but the hosts almost went ahead at the end of the first half when Lilian Laslandes connected with an Edixon Perrea only to volley the ball slightly over the bar.
The absences of strikers Marouane Chamakh (injury) and Jean-Claude Darcheville (suspension) were being felt, though, and Bordeaux did not look like scoring until Coach Ricardo sent on Vladimir Smicer towards the end.
The former Liverpool midfielder injected a new urgency into proceedings and set up the only goal of the game four minutes after coming on. Receiving the ball from Julien Faubert, he controlled, spun and fed a perfect ball through to Fernando Menegazzo, who drove his shot past Tony Sylva to break the deadlock.
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