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Ciani confident Bordeaux will prevail

FC Girondins de Bordeaux were "worthy winners" at Olympiacos FC according to Michaël Ciani, although the goalscorer knows the French champions will not have it all their own way in the return.

Ciani confident Bordeaux will prevail
Ciani confident Bordeaux will prevail ©UEFA.com

Michaël Ciani was "absolutely delighted" to score the only goal as FC Girondins de Bordeaux triumphed at Olympiacos FC but knows there is work to be done on home soil in three weeks' time if the French club are to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Having amassed the most points of the 32 teams in the group stage, Bordeaux continued their impressive form in the competition at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. The French champions soaked up long spells of home pressure either side of Ciani's headed winner two minutes into added time at the end of the first half.

"It was a very close and balanced game; there was not much space for either team to work in but I'm absolutely delighted with the result," said the 25-year-old. "We were worthy winners."

Ciani, whose towering presence at the heart of the Bordeaux defence was just as much a factor in securing victory as his goal, might have had another goal just after half-time but he headed over Antonis Nikopolidis' crossbar when well placed.

"My job is mainly defending but sometimes I get forward and I managed to put one of my chances away," Ciani added. "It was not so important that I scored the goal but that the team got the win. We still have a very tough match ahead of us. I was impressed by Olympiacos – they are well-organised and have a high work-rate. They closed us down very well and did not allow us to play to our rhythm."

Bordeaux twice reached the last eight of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in the 1980s, and will be firm favourites to repeat the feat for the first time in the UEFA Champions League era when the tie concludes at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

"What we have to do now if we want to qualify is not concede a goal in France," said Ciani. "But I think we will have more space and opportunities in the next match, and as long as we play as well as we did tonight then we will get the result we need to qualify in the return leg."

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