Bordeaux welcome Marseille to the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas on Sunday surrounded by all sorts of chitterchatter concerning their personnel.

Coach Laurent Blanc is at the centre of rumours that he may soon be coaching the French national team, or if not that then even stepping into Sir Alex Ferguson's mighty shoes at Manchester United. Meanwhile, his brilliant Moroccan striker, Marouane Chamakh, is hotly tipped to be snapped up by a Premier League outfit during the January transfer window.

Gossiping aside, Bordeaux go into the game on a rich vein of form, having won their last six games and losing very few before that. They'll be looking to further secure their runaway position at the top of Ligue 1 against a Marseille side three places and 11 points below them.

Marseille's recent form is less impressive with their last two games featuring a loss and draw. They'd only lost one in eight before that, though, and will be looking to recapture that form at Bordeaux. From hereon in it's a race to bag one of the three French Champions League spots for Marseille, a status they've grown accustomed to over the last few seasons.

We Played It!

The match will be a gritty, tough encounter. Neither side will give away much ball in a cagey encounter of few standout chances.

Marseille's Brazilian front man Brandao will enjoy the lion's share of half chances during the first half - in contrast to a Bordeaux side failing to craft anything of note. But Brandao will resolutely fail to take his chances count until the 44th minute, when he'll cut a shot into the net from an extreme angle to take a goal advantage into the break.

Bordeaux will launch in to the second period with an attitude that much better suits their league position, although they'll continue to struggle against a solid Marseille defence and a resolute keeper in Steve Mandanda. The effect is another half of very chances.

However, renewed second-half vigour will reap benefits just in time for the hosts. The ever-impressive Yoann Gourcuff will rise between two defenders on 83 minutes to head home across the keeper and secure a hard-fought draw for the home side.

FINAL SCORE: Bordeaux 1 - 1 Marseille

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