There are only four teams left from Loire and Haute-Loire (not counting ASSE) in the running for the Coupe de France. This Saturday, November 16, Le Puy Foot (N2) travels to the pitch of FC Comtal (R2), Espaly (N3) receives AF Biars Bretenoux (R1) and Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert (R3) receives Bourgoin- Jallieu (N3). This Sunday, November 17, the Brivois Rescuers from Brive-Charensac (R3) move onto the lawn of the USE Couzeix Chaptelat (R2).
The most special preparation is that of the Brivois rescuers. The Haute-Loire club saw its pitch destroyed by floods. They were forced to train and play on other pitches thanks to the support of the department's clubs. “They continued to help us with training and matches, like Le Puy, Polignac, Espaly… A lot of people help us and a lot of clubs allowed us to work more or less properly.” appreciates the president of the Regional 3 club, José Santos. After their exploit against Firminy during the last round, anything seems possible.
Espaly wants to mark the club's history
The Espaly team is in a position to make its mark in history. The National 3 club has never reached the eighth round. “It's always interesting to leave your name on a club's list of achievements. The players did it two years ago for the promotion to National Three, since it had never been done here. It could be interesting for the Coupe de France” ambitions coach Lionel Vaillant.
Favorite Puy Foot
After an extraordinary campaign punctuated by a quarter-final last year, the Ponots are moving forward calmly for the moment. They arrive as big favorites against FC Comtal from Aveyron, three divisions below. “There are only three players left who have experienced the epic and the coach. So it's very, very few. That's why the motivation is great. The seventh round is already a first step since the preliminary rounds are often rounds against regional teams. We had two or three Ligue 2 teams in the group. We avoided them today, we will have to be on our guard not to experience a failure. analyzes club president Christophe Gauthier.
The feat for Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert
Saint-Just-saint-Rambert has no choice. You have to achieve a feat. Bourgoin-Jallieu plays three divisions above the last Loire club still in the running. The club is not used to reaching these heights. As proof, they must play at the Envol Stadium in Andrézieux-Bouthéon: “It's true that playing at home would have been better, but that doesn't matter. We're expecting around 3,000 people. We've already pre-sold around 1,000 tickets.” specifies President Ramazan Kus.
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