Team Focus: Bordeaux's Unbeaten Streak

After their awful performances in the league last season, most of the early praise this year has been directed towards Elie Baup's league leaders Marseille. However over in the Burgundy region the locals are raising a glass of red wine to their own unbeaten side.

Although disappointed to concede a late equaliser against Ajaccio at the weekend, the draw took Bordeaux’s unbeaten run to 16 competitive games, and including their five pre-season games, they have only tasted defeat once in 21 games. As OM and PSG take all the plaudits, Francis Gillot's side are quietly going about their business, and doing it in some style.

Playing a mixture of 4-2-3-1 and the 3-5-2 that became so successful last season, Bordeaux's style has been based on width from the full backs, creativity from the centre of the pitch and the goals of Yoan Gouffran.

His 14 goals last season were the most he had ever scored since the 15 he claimed in Ligue 2 when Caen won promotion to Ligue 1 in 2007. Until last season he hadn't scored over ten goals for Bordeaux; the most he'd scored had been five. On the way to 14 goals last season the 26-year old averaged 1.7 shots per game, so the fact that he is averaging 2.4 a game already this season should be a huge boost for Les Girondins’ support. He may have only found the back of the net twice so far, but he is getting into the right positions. It may not be benefiting Gouffran directly but his hard work is invaluable to the team.

As a team Bordeaux are averaging 13 shots per game, the 5th most in Ligue 1, but so far the goal return hasn't quite matched those efforts, with seven goals in six games the joint 9th highest in the league. On the opposite side, they sit ninth in the league in terms of shots conceded; facing 11 per game, putting them ahead of the likes of PSG, Manchester City and Juventus.

Leading the line defensively has been the veteran Marc Planus; the 30-year old is currently in his 21st season with Bordeaux. Planning for 11 years with the youth set-up and then 300+ games for the first team makes the man something of a legend around the Stade Chaban Delmas.

So far he has only missed one game - the 0-0 draw with PSG - but as well as they did without him they have been superb with him, in games that have seen him average 5.8 clearances, 1.2 tackles and only 0.8 fouls per game. Most of Bordeaux's moves start through Planus, with his 4.6 accurate long balls per game only bettered by goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso of all current Bordeaux players. Planus is the elder statesman of the team and on and off the pitch he is a leader. Gillot's general on the pitch, it is clear how important he is to this team's success.

Most of the team’s goals so far this season have in some way involved Polish midfielder Ludovic Obraniak. Only three of their seven goals have come from open play, with the other four coming from set-pieces with the help of Obraniak’s wonderful left-foot. In six appearances he has two goals and one assist so far this season, but it’s more than just those moments that have helped him to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.15 this season.

Most of what Bordeaux do well you will find Obraniak at the heart of, averaging 1.8 shots per game, as many key passes as Gouffran has shots, three accurate long balls per game and 42 passes per game. When Gillot brought in the midfielder from Lille last winter, Obraniak moved to find a team that he could play in nearly every week. Ask any Lille fan now and they would happily take him back in an instant. Such a multi-threat talent, his movement, balance and reading of the game is simply superb.

Bordeaux's unbeaten run is a true story of togetherness. From the full-back play of Tremoulinas and Marino to the creativity and explosive play of Jussie and Henri Saivet, this team really is the strength of the sum of its parts.

Luckily for Francis Gillot and the fans, Bordeaux seem to be made up of some excellent parts. Les Girondins may not be title favourites, or even likely candidates for the Champions League, but if they keep playing with an excellent sense of team spirit, then who knows how long this run will last and where it will take them.