Girondins de Bordeaux – Ligue 1: the puzzle of the attack for Vladimir Petkovic

With 12 goals in 10 games, the offensive record of the Girondins de Bordeaux at the start of the season is weak. A third of the Navy and White’s goals were scored by Hwang Ui-Jo (4) which starts again on similar bases to last season. Last year, the South Korean striker finished the club’s top scorer with 12 goals (three penalties) and was the only light in the dark sky of Bordeaux. But the former Gamba Osaka scorer followed the Olympic Games this summer and the resumption of the championship and only missed the first home game against Clermont (0-2). Result: it is injured and he is not in the group to face Lorient, just like M’Baye Niang.

Efficiency that saves the Girondins

Coach Vladimir Petkovic and his defender Enock Kwateng may think that Bordeaux deserved to beat Nantes (1-1) last week, the post-match statistics are there to remind the reality of the facts. Bordeaux scored on his only shot on target of the game, despite a big opportunity that ended on the crossbar in the first period. Same scenario against Rennes (1-1) and Saint-Étienne (2-1) where the Navy and White finish with three shots on target. According to an infographic produced by our colleagues from the Team, the Girondins de Bordeaux are part of the teams that « outperform and create few opportunities« in Ligue 1. Clearly, they know realize the rare opportunities they manage to have.

The coach readily concedes that his team still has room for improvement in the offensive animation. However, he thinks that his players « are progressing on this level« . To avoid putting pressure on his striker, he also asks the other attackers of the club to apply in the penultimate pass.

Who to replace Hwang at the forefront of the attack?

Hwang is involved in 41% of Girondins’ goals this season, in Ligue 1. However, the South Korean is therefore finally absent this Sunday due to a external sprain of the right ankle contracted during the reception of Nantes, last week. Depending on the severity, the downtime could vary between three and nine weeks for this type of injury. Vladimir Petkovic tried to ward off fate before the trip to Lorient: « Until the game, I still hope to have it. «  Before concluding, laconic, that the club « will do everything to have him with us as soon as possible ».

What are the solutions for the Girondins de Bordeaux in this scoring position? On paper, the club has several players: Jimmy Briand, Josh Maja, M’Baye Niang, and Sékou Mara. At the moment, only the latter seems to be in good enough shape to take over the interim. His number of tenure attests: the player trained at the club has started four times over the ten days of Ligue 1. Asked at a press conference, Vladimir Petkovic believes that Niang and Maja are not yet ready to start. « After an injury, it’s hard to tell if they’re 100% to start. That’s why we try to give players opportunities during matches. «  Unlike last year’s squad, the Girondins have more varied profiles. It remains for Petkovic to find the right formula to make them play together.