Paris Saint Germain vs Bordeaux preview - Sagnol wants Bordeaux to step up

Posted Saturday, October 25, 2014 by PA

Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol knows his players will have their work cut out when they travel to Paris St Germain on Saturday, but is not afraid of conceding as long as they create plenty of chances in response.

Champions PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 so far, although their form has yet to reach the dizzy heights of last season with Laurent Blanc's men drawing six of their opening 10 matches to trail leaders Marseille by seven points.

Bordeaux have also made a solid start to the campaign and sit level on points with PSG, although their last two fixtures have ended disappointingly with defeat against Reims and a draw with Caen.

Sagnol acknowledges that mini slump is not the best preparation for a trip to the Parc des Princes, but is relishing the challenge nevertheless.

"We know what to expect from Paris," he told the club's official website.

"We know the players they have. We know they're capable of putting on a show, even if they have struggled a little recently. They're still the best side in Ligue 1...in terms of the individual players they have, they're way out in front.

"The advantage for us going to Paris is that we have nothing to lose. In fact we have everything to play for.

"I want to see my players taking risks to get the win. We're not a defensive side. We want to get results by playing good football. We want to score goals, even if that means conceding a few.

"We need to take things up a level. There is no excuse for us not to give everything we have to make this a good match. I'd rather come away having conceded five goals and having given our all to play good football."

PSG have picked up two wins already in the last week, beating Lens in the league before topping APOEL in the Champions League.

And Blanc hopes Sagnol will live up to his word and bring an attacking side to the French capital in order to encourage his own players to go forward.

He told www.psg.fr: "Bordeaux have had a very good start to the season with a new coach and a new playing philosophy.

"They are third in the table and few people expected to find them there.

"I read that Bordeaux will come here with a lot of ambition and I hope it will come true on the pitch, as this may well lead to an open match and hopefully a PSG victory. Because we have to take the points."

PSG continue to be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic (heel) while fellow forward Edinson Cavani serves a one-match ban for the red card he was shown against Lens.

Bordeaux travel without defensive trio Thiago Ilori, Lamine Sane and Theo Pellenard, midfielder Nicolas Maurice-Belay and frontmen Henri Saivet and Jussie, who are all injured.