EUROPA LEAGUE: KHAZRI’S MASTERPIECE GIVES BORDEAUX SLIM EDGE OVER KAIRAT ALMATY
A stunning strike from Wahbi Khazri proved to be the difference as Bordeaux secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kairat Almaty in the first leg of the Europa League play-off. While the narrow scoreline leaves the tie finely balanced, it ensures a high-stakes return leg in Kazakhstan.
Speaking after the match, Bordeaux’s Malian midfielder Abdou Traoré expressed confidence despite the slim lead:
“It wasn’t an easy match, but we fought until the end,” he told beIN Sports. “Now we have to try to win at their place to continue our European adventure. They’re a team we can beat, so we’ll do everything we can to win there or draw.”
The Girondins missed the opportunity to put the tie beyond doubt, as they struggled with poor finishing, sloppy play, and ineffective crosses—issues that also plagued them in the previous round against AEK Larnaca.
“The crosses weren’t getting through, that’s what we were lacking a little. But we’ll try to work on that and go win there,” Traoré added.
The return leg, set in Almaty, near the Chinese border, will test Bordeaux’s resolve, but with Khazri in form and lessons learned from the first leg, the French side remains hopeful of progressing to the group stage.
