The 32nd finals of the Coupe de France mark the entry into the running of Ligue 1 clubs, who will have to be vigilant to avoid pitfalls set by over-motivated amateur or semi-professional teams. The draw featured a variety of events, ranging from complicated trips among “little thumbs” to duels between elite teams. Here is an overview of the matches involving Ligue 1 clubs.
Friday December 20: Lille to open the ball
LOSC will be the first representative of the elite to take the stage at 9:00 p.m. Les Dogues will face Rouen. They will have to show seriousness to avoid any missteps in this very special competition.
Saturday December 21: a busy schedule
Saturday will highlight several confrontations between Ligue 1 clubs and teams from lower divisions, determined to create the feat:
- Hauts Lyonnais (N3) at home against Toulouse (L1) : The Violets will travel at 3:30 p.m. to an ambitious team from Nationale 3, who will dream of achieving a brilliant coup in front of their home crowd.
- Saint-Brieuc (N2) will not be easy for Le Havre (L1) : Also at 3:30 p.m., Le Havre will have to face a solid opponent in Nationale 2. Away, those promoted to Ligue 1 will not be safe from a surprise.
- La Roche-sur-Yon (N2) against Brest (L1) : Brest, well established in Ligue 1, has the opportunity to pass this round against a courageous team from N2, but caution remains in order.
- Le Puy (N2) attacking Montpellier (L1) : Scheduled for 6:00 p.m., this duel will allow the Héraultais to gauge their squad against a team which will have nothing to lose. Attention …
- Corte (N3) against Nice (L1) : The Aiglons will have to be solid during their trip to Corsica, always a special destination for professional clubs.
- Drancy (N3) against Nantes (L1) : The Canaries will try to avoid a clash against an amateur team accustomed to battles on several fronts.
- Feignies-Aulnoye (N2) against Lyon (L1) : Les Gones will play at 9:00 p.m. on the pitch of an ambitious N2 team. The Rhone team will have to ensure a convincing victory.
- Calais (N3) receives Strasbourg (L1) : Still at 9:00 p.m., Racing travels to a city marked by a strong history in the Coupe de France, recalling the Calais epic of 2000.
Sunday December 22: shocks expected in the Coupe de France
- Still Mutzig (R1) against Reims (L1) : The Champenois will have to negotiate a tricky trip to a regional team motivated by the idea of achieving a historic feat.
- Auxerre (L1) opposed to Dunkirk (L2) : This 100% professional duel at 2:45 p.m. promises a great opposition between two confident teams.
- Union Saint-Jean (R1) against Monaco (L1) : The Monegasques will obviously start as favorites, but will have to adapt to a context very different from that of Ligue 1 a few days after the shock against PSG (2-4)
- Saint-Étienne (L1) against Marseille (L1) : The clash of this round will be played at 2:45 p.m. The Greens will try to upset the favorite Olympians, in a meeting which promises to be electric.
- Bordeaux (N2) it gets complicated for Rennes (L1) : Despite the difference in division, the Rennais will have to be wary of a Bordeaux team which dreams of finding the light again.
- FC 93 Bobigny (N2) against Angers (L1) : The Angevins, in difficulty in the championship, will have to react against an opponent who will play without complexes.
- Lens (L1) face au Paris Saint-Germain (L1) : The last match of the tour will see the Sang et Or welcome the Parisians at 9:00 p.m. in a high-level shock, worthy of a Ligue 1 poster. A real final before its time.
A competition rich in emotions
The magic of the Coupe de France happens every season, and amateur clubs are often used to shaking up the established order. Ligue 1 clubs will therefore have to approach this round seriously, otherwise they will have to leave prematurely a competition which reserves its share of surprises every year.
Friday December 20
- Espaly (N3) ???? Dijon (N) – 20h45
- GOAL FC (N2) ???? Annecy (L2) – 20h45
- Troyes (L2) ???? Metz (L2) – 20h45
- Haguenau (N2) ???? Boulogne-sur-Mer (N) – 8:45 p.m.
- Bastia (L2) ???? RC Saint-Joseph (DH Martinique) – 8.45pm
- Mérignac (R1) ???? Laval (L2) – 21h00
- Rouen (N) ???? LOSC (L1) – 21h00
Saturday December 21
- Bourgoin-Jallieu (N3) ???? Martigues (L2) – 3:30 p.m.
- Hauts Lyonnais (N3) ???? Toulouse (L1) – 3:30 p.m.
- Cannes (N2) ???? Grenoble (L2) – 3:30 p.m.
- Dives-Cabourg (N3) ???? Saint-Denis (DH Réunion) – 3:30 p.m.
- Saint-Brieuc (N2) ???? Le Havre (L1) – 3:30 p.m.
- La Roche-sur-Yon (N2) ???? Brest (L1) – 3:30 p.m.
- Le Puy (N2) ???? Montpellier (L1) – 6:00 p.m.
- Tours (R1) ???? Lorient (L2) – 6:00 p.m.
- Court (N3) ???? Nice (L1) – 18h00
- Thaon (N3) ???? Amiens (L2) – 6:00 p.m.
- Drancy (N3) ???? Nantes (L1) – 6:00 p.m.
- Feignies-Aulnoye (N2) ???? Lyon (L1) – 9:00 p.m.
- Calais (N3) ???? Strasbourg (L1) – 21h00
Sunday December 22
- Still Mutzig (R1) ???? Reims (L1) – 14h45
- Auxerre (L1) ???? Dunkirk (L2) – 2:45 p.m.
- L’Union Saint-Jean (R1) ???? Monaco (L1) – 14h45
- Saint-Étienne (L1) ???? Marseille (L1) – 2:45 p.m.
- Bordeaux (N2) ???? Rennes (L1) – 5:30 p.m.
- Marmande (DSR) ???? Le Mans (N) – 5:30 p.m.
- Thionville Lusitanos (N2) ???? Valenciennes (N) – 5:30 p.m.
- FC 93 Bobigny (N2) ???? Angers (L1) – 5.30pm
- Guingamp (L2) ???? Caen (L2) – 5:30 p.m.
- Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu (N3) ???? QRM (N) – 5:30 p.m.
- Sochaux (N) ???? Clermont (L2) – 5:30 p.m.
- Lens (L1) ???? Paris-SG (L1) – 21h00
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