[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] For only the second time since the launch of the Champions League in 1992, France’s Ligue 1 has two teams in the quarterfinals. AfterLyon, which knocked off Real Madrid last week, Bordeaux moved into the final eight with a 2-1 win over Olympiakos Wednesday to complete a series sweep.
The only other time two Frenchclubs made the final eight was in 2004 when Lyon and Monaco advanced. No French team had made the quarterfinals in 2007, 2008 or 2009.
Bordeaux coachLaurent Blanc wasn’t ready to say French soccer has arrived.
“You can think that because of the teams now qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals, and those doing well inthe Europa League, that this proves that French soccer is in good shape,” Blanc said. “But to confirm this we will have to see how this develops over time to see if this can happen again, and to seehow regularly French teams get through to the quarterfinals.”
Only once before has Bordeaux reached the final eight, losing to eventual champion PSV in 1988.
Bordeaux, thedefending French champion, clinched its series on goals by young French star Yoann Gourcuff and Moroccan MarouaneChamakh.
On both goals, they had some help from goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis. The Greek let Gourcuff’s free kick from a sharp angle flyover him into the goal at the far post, and he failed to catch Benoit Tremoulinas‘ cross, allowing Chamakh to head home at the far post.