Tournai, Lille and the Girondins de Bordeaux
Let's face it, Belgian football is poor, so when I noticed on the fixture list that Bordeaux were due to play at Lille (closest Ligue 1 team to Brussels) I jumped at the opportunity to go to watch the match. It was scheduled for a Sunday so would be a good excursion, and it was relatively cheap too as the match ticket was only €16.
An early start Sunday was crucial in order to arrive in Lille before lunch, but this was a good thing as the train was pretty much empty so was a nice quiet trip. There is no direct train (apart from the Eurostar) so I had to change at Tournai. The Sunday timetables gave me an hour to change trains at Tournai so rather than sit shivering in the station I decided to venture into the town centre.
Although it was only a quick visit, I still managed to see the famous Pont des Trous and the Cathedral, which is stunning even now despite being the subject of renovation work. The buildings in the town are old and very well preserved and I wish I had more time there. The Belfry was closed (as it is every Sunday morning apparently) so couldn't go up there - would be quite tempted to head back there if I have a spare weekend before Christmas...
Back on the train and half an hour later I arrived into the station at Lille Flandres, where stepping of the train I realised just how much I missed France. That's right, I heard the SNCF announcement jingle which is lovely (hear for yourself here). Then I came across one of the coffee machines I had used pretty much on a daily basis while in Paris so treated myself. I had a few hours spare in Lille before I needed to head to the stadium, so I wandered around the centre and came to realise just how wrong I had been about Lille. From passing through on the train I didn't think it was so nice, but the centre is beautiful; so many pretty buildings, particularly the old Bourse.
The Citadel north of the centre is a fascinating place, and I enjoyed a brisk stroll around the perimetre taking in the greenery and trying to avoid being hit by the bikes doing circuits. Would certainly recommend a visit should you be ever find yourself with a couple of hours free in Lille!
As for the match, well, it didn't go as I'd hoped. Bordeaux had come into it off the back of a stunning victory away in Germany and had qualified for the final stages of the Champions League. They were also doing well at the top of the table so I thought it would be an easy victory. However, I did not know that Bordeaux had never managed a win at Lille's Metropole stadium.
The stadium is really nice, although very open and exposed so was very cold by the end (despite wearing six layers). The match was hardly a spectacle, and the result was due largely to Bordeaux's masses of defensive errors. Both goals were gifts, even if the second one (a penalty) was rubbing salt into a bleeding wound.
Bordeaux never looked like scoring a goal and their star-man Yoann Gourcuff (who received a respectful standing ovation during the warm-up) had a truly terrible game with absolutely nothing working for him. It was hardly surprising then that Lille finished the game with a "shock" win. It could easily have been by a greater margin than two goals...
Bordeaux never looked like scoring a goal and their star-man Yoann Gourcuff (who received a respectful standing ovation during the warm-up) had a truly terrible game with absolutely nothing working for him. It was hardly surprising then that Lille finished the game with a "shock" win. It could easily have been by a greater margin than two goals...
So yeah, that was a very disappointing end to what had been a very very nice (if cold) day.
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