French Ligue 1 report: Bordeaux edge out Evian

Bordeaux maintained their push for European football with a 1-0 victory over Evian which did little to help their opponents' relegation fears.

The home side were not without their chances at the Parc des Sports but could find no answer to Wahbi Khazri's early goal as Bordeaux moved up to sixth in Ligue 1 and within four points of a Europa League spot.

Evian, however, remain in the bottom three, having picked up just four points from their last nine league matches.

Bordeaux's challenge for a top-four finish had stuttered in recent weeks and Les Girondins arrived at Evian without a league win since December 6.

However, that looked like it could change when Khazri scored the opener after just nine minutes. Clement Chantome was the provider with a precise cross for the Tunisia midfielder to curl a shot into the top corner.

It took a while for Evian to recover from the early blow, but Cedric Barbosa helped regain their focus after 25 minutes with a powerful left-footed strike which brought a good save out of visiting goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso.

Barbosa then teed up Daniel Wass for a header which fell narrowly wide of the target as another chance to level went begging before half-time.

Gilles Sunu had Evian's first opening of the second half, courtesy of a Mathieu Duhamel assist, but his effort from inside the area was also blocked by Carrasso.

Bordeaux's response moments later was for Mariano to play in Isaac Kiese Thelin for a header which was inches away from finding the top corner.

Evian's push for an equaliser grew more and more desperate as the match wore on but luck appeared to have deserted them as first Wass had a free-kick deflected wide by defender Nicolas Pallois, and then the Denmark right-back was denied by Carrasso as Bordeaux clung on.