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Not even a power cut at the Stade du Ray could prevent Bordeaux from continuing their impressive form at the top of the table.
With Lyon winning earlier in the afternoon, Ricardo’s team needed to win at Nice to ensure that the gap between first and second returned to nine points.
They did just that, as Lilian Laslandes scored the only goal of the game on 48 minutes. And though the floodlights went out one minute before the end, play was able to resume 12 minutes later and Les Girondinds duly cruised to an impressive away win.
Unbeaten in 10 matches, Bordeaux were under pressure early on as Ulrich Ramé had to make a good save from Marama Vahirua after the Tahitian had latched onto Bakary Koné’s cross.
Bordeaux seemed unflustered by the hostile atmosphere and the physical play from the home team, and they slowly grew in strength.
They should have gone in front on the stroke of half-time, but Vladimir Smicer squandered a glorious chance after Francia’s free kick had found him unmarked six yards out.
Julien Faubert replaced Bruno Cheyrou at half-time, and the youngster set up the only goal of the game just three minutes later. His cross was only half cleared by Sammy Traoré and Laslandes slammed the ball past Damien Grégorini.
Nice boss Frédéric Antonetti sent on Sébastien Roudet and Souleymane Camara to give Nice more impetus in attack, but Bordeaux’s defence never looked like creaking.
Instead Nice ‘keeper Grégorini remained busier than Ramé, saving Smicer’s long shot seven minutes from time, as Bordeaux claimed a deserved win.
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