Although Laurent Blanc's Girondins have dominated their Champions League group at the expense of Juventus and Bayern Munich they had slipped up in their last league outings at Lille and against Valenciennes to leave the field clear to Auxerre.

But Auxerre's 1-0 loss Saturday at Paris Saint Germain gave the southwesterners the chance to move back to the summit and they did not let the chance slip, with Brazilian pair Fernando and Wendel and Gouffran all hitting the target at the Stade Marcel Picot.

With Lyon held by a Rennes side who have now not lost any of their past five visits to the Stade Gerland Bordeaux are now steaming on apace.

Blanc was well satisfied after his side took their points tally to 28 from 14 games with Lyon and Auxerre on 26 and surprise package Lorient on 25.

"I think my players realised their performances in the past four matches were not those of a side seeking to place in the top three but rather the bottom three," said the former France defender.

"We realised this could not continue, rediscovered our motivation, and our mobility to put our rivals under pressure," said Blanc. "We have realised we must now put the Champions League to bed until February-March and concentrate on the important thing, which is being able to play in it next season."

Bordeaux were further cheered by Lorient dropping two points in a 2-2 draw with winless tailenders Grenoble as well as by Lyon's slip.

Bordeaux managed the win in the absence of French international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, still getting over a groin strain.

Blanc, a disciple of rotation most weeks, thus kept faith with the side which proved too strong for Juve.

"That's the only thing we hadn't tried," said Blanc in allusion to picking the same side for consecutive matches.

"So we did!" Gouffran set up Fernando to bag the opener on 24 minutes and on the hour Wendel slalomed through the home defensive lines to make it 2-0.