Bordeaux striker Cheick Diabate has insisted that narrowly losing the away leg 1-0 to Benfica made all the difference as the French side went down 3-2 at home on Thursday night.

Diabate said that although things went badly for his side in Europe they would rally in time for the weekend's match against Toulouse.

"The problem was that we lost the first leg and unfortunately that made it more difficult for us to do something," UEFA.com quotes Diabate as saying. "If we'd got a result in the first leg, it would have been easier for us in this game.

"I think Bordeaux played very well. We tried to keep our shape and you have to remember that we were playing a very good team. They created chances and scored, and it was a difficult match, but we tried to give everything we had.

"It went badly for us tonight, but we need to try to win our next game against Toulouse."

Diabate scored four Europa League goals for Bordeaux this season.