http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Francis-c13946 Gillot’s side travel to Tyneside to take on Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United in the second group game of this season’s UEFA Europe League
Group D – Matchday 2
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Boosting a substantial Francophone contingent, Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United FC would be looking to tame Francis Gillot’s FC Girondins de Bordeaux who are yet to lose in Europe and France so far this season.
However, Francis Gillot should be worried about the fact that Les Girondins have not fared admirably in their last five visits to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 where they lost all games.
The two sides are meeting each other for the first time in a UEFA-organised competition. Although Bordeaux have not done well in England, the same can be said of their English counterparts when it comes to games against their neighbours across the Channel.
In their previous 11 games against French sides, Newcastle United have won just twice and have lost five times while drawing the rest. And in their last three home games against Ligue 1 sides, the Magpies have not registered a single win.
Just like Newcastle, Bordeaux’s record against English sides also does not make a happy reading. In their last eight games against English sides at home, the Aquitaine club has lost six times.
Match background
Alan Pardew’s charges are currently unbeaten in their last six home games in Europe and have not lost a game at the Sportsdirect Arena in their last eight outings.
Bordeaux on the other hand, have not lost in their last four European games and kicked off the group phase of the Europa League with a 4-0 thumping of Club Brugge KV.
Magpies are playing in Europe after almost six years and would be looking to do well in the group stages in order to earn progression to the knockout phases of the competition.
Team facts
Newcastle United will be playing their 100th UEFA match.
The game against Bordeaux would be http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gabriel-c14281 Obertan’s first game against a side where it all began for him. Bordeaux picked up the winger from Clairefontaine before he was snapped up by Manchester United in 2009.
Yohan Cabaye, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Demba-Ba-c10812, Mehdi Abeid and Sylvain Marvaux all played in France at the start of their careers before making big-money moves.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yohan-Cabaye-c37423 at LOSC Lille.
Newcastle United boss, Alan Pardew, won the Premier League Manager of the Year last season and played for the likes of Crystal Palace and Charlton as a midfielder.
A word from Francis Gillot
The French tactician feels that Newcastle United are the best team in the group on paper and the atmosphere in the stadium would be fantastic.
"On paper, they are the best team in the group," he admitted. "The stadium is fantastic and there is a real passion for the game in England. I hope that we will be capable of taking up the challenge. For the players, this will be a passionate and magical
game to take part in. England is the land of football, and tomorrow (Thursday) there will be plenty of passion inside the ground."
Team news
Newcastle United
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-c4244 Pardew will have more or less a fully-fit squad to choose from and might consider starting Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse together.
Bordeaux
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cameroon-c2865 international, Landry Nguemo is set to return for first-team duty.
Predicted final score: Newcastle 2-0 Bordeaux
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