Blanc's Bordeaux not finished yet

While admitting it was "a great pleasure" to have qualified for the last 16, FC Girondins de Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc has told his players to make the most of their opportunity to finish top of UEFA Champions League Group A by beating Juventus. His opposite number – and former SSC Napoli team-mate – Ciro Ferrara also has designs on top spot as Juve go in search of the win that would guarantee they join Bordeaux in the knockout phase with a game to spare.

Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux coach
Finishing first will improve our chances in the last 16, we saw that with Lyon last year. It is very important because you have the benefit of being at home in the second leg. We are preparing as usual. This is a very interesting game and I will not have to motivate my players. Juventus have changed their system and have players who were not here for the first leg [a 1-1 draw on Matchday 1]. But I think the best player from that game is still here: Gianluigi Buffon. I am not thinking about the very busy month of December – we are playing Juventus at home. We are through to the last 16. It's a great thing and a great pleasure, but the biggest pleasure for a footballer is to win. We can finish first in the group, this is a great chance.

Ciro Ferrara, Juventus coach
We are not through yet. We need points, but Bordeaux will fight to defend top spot. It will be a very tight game and we will play to win. We still have our destiny in our own hands. We had a very difficult game against Udinese [on Sunday, a 1-0 win]. They defended well and we were unable to express ourselves. We tend to produce more in the Champions League. I might make some changes. Bordeaux are missing Gourcuff, but that makes no difference to me. We shouldn't pay too much attention to injured players, we know Bordeaux will always be dangerous. I know Laurent Blanc very well. He is a very successful coach. I remember his determination when we played together – he hasn't changed, but I hope I'll prove we are stronger. Juventus will always try to finish first. We know it is difficult, but that is what we're striving for.

Weekend results
21/11/09 Bordeaux 0-1 Valenciennes FC
(Samassa 7)

• The French champions' 13-match winning league run at home was ended by Valenciennes. Les Girondins were undefeated in 39 Ligue 1 fixtures at Stade Chaban-Delmas – a run stretching back to Olympique Lyonnais' 3-1 win on 7 October 2007.

22/11/09 Juventus 1-0 Udinese Calcio
(Grosso 51)

• Fabio Grosso's first goal for Juventus was enough to secure a sixth victory in seven outings in all competitions, four coming by 1-0 margins.

• With David Trezeguet ruled out with a calf injury Amauri returned to the starting XI.

Team news
Bordeaux
Out: Jussiê (hip), Yoann Gourcuff (groin)
Doubtful: Marouane Chamakh (stomach)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Marc Planus

Juventus
Out: Vincenzo Iaquinta (knee), David Trezeguet (calf)
Doubtful: Hasan Salihamidžić (ankle), Claudio Marchisio (knee), Jonathan Zebina (thigh)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

Background
• Bordeaux made sure of their continued involvement in the UEFA Champions League in the new year by winning at FC Bayern München last time out. Juventus will join them provided they at least match Bayern's result at home to Maccabi Haifa FC.

• Bordeaux sit top of the section with ten points, two more than Juventus, and victory will secure them first place – and their best ever points haul in the competition. The Ligue 1 outfit collected 12 points when advancing from the first group stage in 1999/00.

• Bordeaux earned a 1-1 draw at Juventus on Matchday 1 when Jaroslav Plašil struck with 15 minutes remaining to cancel out Iaquinta's 63rd-minute opener for the home team.

Did you know?
Juventus have the meanest defence in the UEFA Champions League, having leaked just one goal in 360 minutes to date.

For more information on the match in the official press kit, click here.