Bordeaux made a quite incredible push to finish sixth in Ligue 1 and therefore secure a place in next season’s Europa League.
They started this season in that very same competition but were eliminated by the time their domestic fixtures began, having been embarrassingly defeated on the away goals from by Videoton of Hungary.
It was an inauspicious beginning to the campaign, though, as Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side push their way to third in the standings by the end of September, it seemed it might just have been an early blip.
Malcom, at this time, was in great form, catching the eye with numerous spectacular goals, though he would soon become the only offensive weapon of the side as summer arrivals Jonathan Cafu and Nicolas De Preville both flopped badly.
The start of Bordeaux’s downturn was a 6-2 loss against PSG at the end of September, and thereafter they would win only one more match before January 13, by which time they had fallen to 15th and were in serious danger of relegation.
A 2-0 home loss to Caen a week later spelled the end for Gourvennec and Gus Poyet was quickly put in post.
The Uruguayan instantly led his side to four successive victories, though his appointment clearly did not cure all the ills of the team as they then went six without a win, apparently ending their European hopes.
However, Bordeaux somehow found the resources to come through and win seven of their last eight Ligue 1 games of the season to climb six spots and jump into the final European spot. It was achieved with a flourish, as Metz were defeated 4-0.
Poyet envisages significant changes around the club during the summer, with as many as 10 players leaving and several more coming in. He has made a promising start to his work, though.
