Bordeaux resist Olympiacos rally

FC Girondins de Bordeaux survived a major scare to reach the quarter-finals of Europe's élite club competition for the first time in 22 years after a hard-fought victory against an Olympiacos FC team who finished with nine men.

Despite taking a one-goal lead into the home leg and doubling their advantage through Yoann Gourcuff's brilliant fifth-minute free-kick, the French titleholders were left hanging on to a slender 2-1 aggregate advantage after substitute Kostas Mitroglou levelled matters on the night after 65 minutes. With both teams losing a player to red cards either side of Mitroglou's strike, the final moments were nervy for the home fans. Ludovic Sané's goal line clearance denied Raúl Bravo as the visitors pressed for an all-important second but Maroune Chamakh had the last say, heading in Benoît Trémoulinas's cross two minutes from time.

Bordeaux had failed to win any of their three league matches since the 1-0 success in Piraeus, yet suggestions confidence might be ebbing were dispelled inside five minutes as the hosts burst out of the blocks. Fernando had already shot wide when Wendel raced up the left only to be tripped by Ieroklis Stoltidis. The Greek champions paid a hefty penalty as, from the resulting free-kick, Gourcuff curled a stunning shot from close to the touchline over Antonis Nikopolidis and into the top corner.

Gourcuff's second of the campaign was the ninth goal the French side had scored from set pieces, and it proved the perfect antidote to any pre-match nerves. Les Marine et Blanc subsequently appeared in total control, and only Nikopolidis prevented them from increasing their advantage before half-time. The veteran goalkeeper made a low stop from Marouane Chamakh's skimming strike on 35 minutes, then raced off his line bravely to deny Gourcuff from point-blank range.

There was nothing Nikopolidis could do when Gourcuff arrowed another magnificent free-kick over from the left flank on 44 minutes. Fortune favoured the 39-year-old this time, however, as the ball cannoned out off the underside of the bar. Shaken by the early goal, Božidar Bandović's side took time to hit their stride, although Matt Derbyshire came close to levelling matters in added time when he turned in Lomana LuaLua's cross-shot only for the flag to be raised.

Derbyshire's intelligent running was posing problems, but the English striker allowed his frustration to get the better of him on the hour, picking up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Jaroslav Plašil. The task had just got even harder for the visitors, yet Mitroglou gave them hope by scoring just two minutes after coming on. From Bravo's throw, the substitute stole in front of Michaël Ciani and beat Cédric Carrasso with a superb volley from the edge of the box.

If Mitroglou's strike sent a chill around Stade Chaban-Delmas, Laurent Blanc's men were in more trouble moments later as Alou Diarra's dismissal for a second booking evened up the numbers. Olympiacos threw everything they had at the visitors, but after Bravo had been denied, Chamakh wrapped up Bordeaux's seventh straight UEFA Champions League win. The visitors' misery compounded when Olof Mellberg was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.