Bordeaux vs Clermont

Bordeaux’s road to redemption for a dismal 2020/21 campaign begins at the Matmut Atlantique as they welcome newly-promoted Clermont in their 2021/22 Ligue 1 opener.

After avoiding relegation by an inch last season, Bordeaux head into the new Ligue 1 campaign burdened with off-field issues regarding ongoing financial concerns. ‘Les Girondins’ have now finished outside the top ten in three consecutive top-flight campaigns. Indeed, three wins from the final four league matches (L1) – as many as in their previous 15 in the competition (D1, L11) – helped the 2009 French champions overcome relegation fears last season. Adding to a long list of concerns, the hosts have suffered four defeats in their previous six opening Ligue 1 fixtures on home turf (W1, D1), as many as in their first 40 such contests (W27, D10). Curiously, none of Bordeaux’s last seven Ligue 1 openers against newly-promoted sides have ended as a draw (W5, L2).

Meanwhile, Clermont finished runners-up to Troyes in the previous Ligue 2 campaign to earn their inaugural top-flight appearance. Interestingly, they will become the ninth different side to make their Ligue 1 debut in the 21st century. Therefore, it’s little wonder that they are the bookmakers’ favorite to be relegated, though a promising run of eight straight league matches in which they found the net can come as an encouragement. Clermont’s only previous competitive meeting with Bordeaux yielded a narrow 1-0 defeat, which is in line with their last season’s tendency to succumb to single-goal margins. Indeed, six of their last seven away league losses came by a one-goal margin. Topically, three of Les Lanciers‘ final four Ligue 2 trips in 2020/21 featured the identical 2-1 scoreline (W2, L2).