Bordeaux look to seize their chance

FC Girondins de Bordeaux have lost both their opening games, conceding seven goals and scoring only one. If their third UEFA Champions League campaign is not to become a chapter of woe they know they can not afford to drop more points at home to CFR 1907 Cluj.

• It was always likely to be a difficult start for Laurent Blanc's team who were first paired with Chelsea FC, last season's runners-up, before playing host to AS Roma. However, they surely would have hoped for better than to be on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge and a 3-1 reverse at their own Stade Chaban-Delmas. And if they had identified Matchday 3 as a good chance of picking up any points they had lost in the opening weeks, then the spirited form of CFR must be making them think again.

• The game in London began to go away from Bordeaux in the 14th minute when Frank Lampard headed Chelsea in front. It was 2-0 by half-time with two more goals slipping past goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé in the final ten minutes. Two weeks later the French club suffered in the face of Roma's determined fightback after Yoann Gourcuff's fine goal had shot the home side ahead. Henrique's 36th-minute dismissal proved disastrous for the hosts and with two goals in seven second-half minutes, the Italian outfit turned the contest around. Substitute Júlio Baptista completed the victory with his second goal late on to leave Bordeaux bottom of the section without a point from two games.

• At least Gourcuff's effort means Les Marine et Blanc achieved something they failed to manage in either of their opening two games in the 2006/07 edition – namely score a goal. In fact, two years ago they failed to score in any of their first four games. In their last eight home UEFA Champions League fixtures Bordeaux have amassed just six goals and half of those came against Galatasaray AŞ on 22 November 2006. In four of those eight games they have failed to get on the scoresheet. Of their last 16 fixtures in the competition they have only won twice.

• For CFR and their new Italian coach Maurizio Trombetta, Matchday 1 proved an exhilarating occasion as they celebrated their debut appearance at Europe's top table with a 2-1 victory over Roma. After going behind, the visitors stunned the home crowd by the force of their comeback. Argentinian midfielder Juan Culio equalised on 27 minutes before volleying the winner early in the second half.

• That result put a whole new complexion on CFR's game with Chelsea in Transylvania three weeks ago and with a goalless draw, Trombetta's team showed that their opening-day result was no fluke. The fixture at the CFR Stadium was devoid of clear-cut chances though Eugen Trică passed up an excellent first-half opportunity and then hit the outside of the post after the break. It left CFR with four points and a share of the lead in the section alongside the London club.

• Bordeaux have only met opposition from Romania on two previous occasions in European competition and they were both played more than 20 years ago. They faced FC Universitatea Craiova in the 1982/83 UEFA Cup third round and two years later played FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti. In both cases the Bordeaux leg ended 1-0 to the home team. They lost away to Craiova 2-0 and drew 1-1 at Dinamo, the second result helping them to progress to the third round of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.

• Before this season, CFR had only a UEFA Intertoto Cup final and a UEFA Cup second qualifying round tie to their name in Europe. In the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign they faced two French opponents. They met AS Saint-Etienne in the third round, drawing 1-1 at home and 2-2 away to go through on away goals. Then in the final they faced RC Lens and again started off with a 1-1 draw at home. This time, however, the away leg went against them, ending 3-1 to Lens.

• Chelsea host Roma in the group's other game.