WAG : The dance of Ali Benarbia
At the start of the action, made by an opening for Patrick Blondeau, who had been left alone at the back of the Bordeaux defense, Ali Benarbia was there to receive and finish a perfect cross from the right and beat Gaëtan Huard with a sublime volley. This goal had the mark of FC Martigues, where Benarbia and Blondeau had rubbed shoulders at the beginning of their pro career in the late ’80s.
0-4 at the half !
It allowed AS Monaco to lead 0-3 at the Parc Lescure against the hapless Girondins. Once was not enough, though; it was Lilian Thuram who opened the scoring from the 4th minute in this encounter on the 6th matchday of D1. The Liberian striker, Christopher Wreh, widened the gap ten minutes later. After Benarbia’s goal, Wreh would even double his tally to make it 0-4 in the 44th minute. At the end of an incredible first period, AS Monaco had mystified Bordeaux on their own pitch.
📺 #WAG 👉 𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗮 🕺 pic.twitter.com/nX6a134Geb
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 21, 2019
An epic run and survival for Bordeaux
The goals of Bancarel and Tholot in the second half made the final margin a little more respectable for the hosts, but the mission was accomplished for the Red and Whites, who won 2-4 and finished the season in third while Bordeaux would narrowly survive, although not without reaching the final of the UEFA Cup after eliminating the great AC Milan.
Not the last dance
As for Ali Benarbia, this little “dance” was not the last for him at Lescure. Indeed, the Algerian playmaker joined Les Girondins three years later. After being champion of France 1997 with AS Monaco and semi-finalist in the Champions League in 1998, he won another title in 1998-1999, before joining PSG (1999-2001), then Manchester City (2001 -2003) before finishing his fine career in Qatar (2003-2006).
August 26, 1995 – Parc Lescure
Division 1 – 6th matchday
AS Monaco 4-2 Girondins de Bordeaux
Official : M. Bré
Goals: Thuram (4), Wreh (13, 44), Benarbia (32) for AS Monaco – Bancarel (63e), Tholot (75e) for Bordeaux
FCG Bordeaux : Huard, Croci (Varesanovic 15), Witschge, Prunier (De Blasiis 46), Dogon, Lizarazu, Lucas (Tholot 46), Dutuel, Zidane, Bancarel, Dugarry – Manager : Slavo Muslin
AS Monaco : Piveteau, Blondeau, Thuram, Boli, Dos Santos, Di Méco, Legwinski, Benarbia (Puel 73), Scifo, Anderson, Wreh (Dumas 57) – Manager : Jean Tigana
