Girondins de Bordeaux 0-1 Stade de Reims 

THE MATCH

Bordeaux paid tribute to the retiring Plasil before kick-off, this his final home game before bringing the curtains down on nine years at the club, but the celebratory mood at the Matmut Atlantique was dented with the first attack of the game, Suk getting on the end of Mathieu Cafaro's deflected cross (2'). Suk nearly turned provider for Cafaro minutes later when he mugged Jules Koundé of possession and slipped the midfielder in, but the France U20 defender recovered in time to save his team (10'). Toma Basic then volleyed a chance straight at Reims goalkeeper Edouard Mendy following a free-kick at the other end (14') before Jimmy Briand headered another chance wide (26'). Both sides were inches away from seeing the net ripple again before the half was out - François Kamano thumped a long-range drive narrowly over the Reims crossbar (34') before Suk was denied his brace by the width of the post at the other end (45') - and the sides went in for the break with the Champagne club leading their wine country rivals 1-0.

Champagne rather than Bordeaux

Paulo Sousa sent Yassine Benrahou on for Basic at the start of the second half, and the young Moroccan had a quick impact, drawing a save from Mendy after surging forward and firing high at the Reims goal (50'). Home fans were then off their seats when Plasil stood over a free-kick earned by Briand, but a first goal since February 2017 continued to elude him, his effort headed clear at the near post (61'). Bordeaux dominated the second half, ending the fixture with 62 per cent of possession, but they couldn't make it tell, despite digging deep right to the end. Youssouf Sabaly stumbled after bursting into the box following a smart one-two with Briand (81'); Briand then had a goal ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Mendy (86') before Benrahou came off second-best for the second time against the Senegal shot-stopper (90+4'), and it ended 1-0.

THE PLAYER: Jaroslav Plasil

The last of Plasil's 289 Ligue 1 Conforama games for Bordeaux may have ended in defeat, but the 37-year-old former Czech Republic midfielder still played well, completing 90 per cent of his passes from the heart of midfield. A move into coaching has been mooted. Given his reception at the Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux fans will be pleased if it was with them, whatever the capacity.

THE STAT: 5

Plasil will remember happier times at Bordeaux, arriving the summer they won the title in 2009. Les Girondins have stuttered under Sousa, losing each of their last five games. All five defeats have been by a single goal though - a dash of cutting edge acquired this summer and they should be fine.