Bordeaux will be hoping to establish a first-leg advantage in France when they take on Kairat in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

The Ligue 1 club have won all of their games in the competition this season, while their opponents have made it to the playoffs for the first time in their history.

Bordeaux

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With just two matches separating Bordeaux from a place in the group stages of the Europa League, the club will be hoping that there are no slip-ups on home soil.

They were not involved in the competition last season, while in the previous campaign they suffered a disappointing exit, losing five of their six group matches.

Things went smoothly for them in the third qualifying round earlier this month, as they eased to a 3-0 win at home to AEK Larnaca, before seeing out the job with a 1-0 victory in Cyprus.

However, their Ligue 1 campaign has not started so well, and they kicked off the season with a 2-1 defeat to Reims, thanks to goals in the last 10 minutes from Nicolas De Preville and Theoson Siebatcheu.

Another defeat looked on the cards when they faced Saint-Etienne at the weekend and they were trailing in stoppage time, until Henri Saivet fired in from long-range to salvage a point.

Recent form: WWLD

Kairat

Making the trip to France on Thursday evening are a Kairat side who have already exceeded people's expectations by reaching this stage of the competition.

The Kazakhstan Premier League club caused a shock in the first qualifying round when they beat former European Champions Red Star Belgrade 4-1 on aggregate.

A victory in their next qualifier with Alashkert followed, before they were drawn against much-fancied Aberdeen.

They made a quick start to the first leg and raced into a two-goal lead, before eventually holding on to claim a 2-1 win.

The club then made the long trip to Scotland a week later in a bid to hold onto their advantage and Gerard Gohou struck to increase their lead further. A late goal from Kenny McLean led to an onslaught from the hosts, but the Dons couldn't find another as the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

Recent form: DLWWDD

Team News

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Bordeaux manager Willy Sagnol is expected to make a number of changes to his side following their under-par displays in the league.

Their lack of a threat in front of goal at the weekend could see Diego Rolan and Isaac Kiese Thelin handed starts in the attack.

Jerome Prior is also expected to continue in between the sticks, with Cedric Carrasso nursing an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Gohou should lead the attack once again for the visitors after his goal in Scotland.

Bordeaux possible starting lineup:
Prior, Contento, Pallois, Yambere, Guilbert, Saivet, Chantome, Poko, Diabate, Rolan, Thelin

Kairat possible starting lineup:
Plotnikov, Kuantayev, Soares, Markovic, Gurman, Bakaev, Tymoshchuk, Barbosa, Islamkhan, Ninis, Gohou

We say: Bordeaux 2-0 Kairat

Bordeaux may not have hit top form in the league, but they should have too much quality for Kairat. The Kazakh club have produced some notable displays in Europe this season, although this could be a step too far, which is why we are tipping Sagnol's men to earn a first-leg victory.

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