Football (French Cup). FC Marmande

Four divisions will separate the professionals from Le Mans (National) from the amateurs from Marmandais (Regional 2) at kick-off, this Sunday, December 22 (5:30 p.m.). The gap may seem prohibitive but the Coupe de France doesn't care. The Old Lady could tell tons of stories where the supposed ogre knocked his teeth out on Tom Thumb. The last exploit at this stage of the competition, for an R2 club, dates back to the 2017-2018 season when FC Andrézieux-Bouthéon (R2) defeated (2-1) the Crocos du Nîmes Olympique (Ligue 1).

Facing 10^e of the third national division, FC Marmande still has other arguments to put forward to go a little further into history. Undefeated in the championship, where he is ranked 4^e place in its group D with four games late, the FCM has still not experienced defeat in the Cup where, before being drafted, the elimination against Vierzon (National 3) was only decided on penalties on goal (2-2, 3 tab 5). All while leading twice in the score. But we had to wait for this 8^e turn so that the Marmandais measure themselves against a hierarchically superior opponent.

Manceaux big piece

The Sarthois thus represent the largest piece offered on the menu of Lot-et-Garonnais. If the Manceaux only entered the competition in the 5th^e In turn, they had difficulty overcoming Changé (R1) by having to come back twice before making the break (2-4). In their championship, they raised the bar against Valenciennes (2-1) after three defeats and a draw.

The fact remains that coach Videira's 5-3-2 can count on an efficient attack in the Cup, with a duo of attackers Guèye-Vula author of 5 of the 15 goals for Le Mans FC, while the 4-3-3 of his counterpart Nicolas Florès will rely on his tip fond of triplets Unity Ewelike and his arrow on the left side, Daouda Diallo, to shake the opposing nets. “The coach wants us to play Football,” summarizes FCM captain and central defender Mayverick Compper, “not just for us to be there and try to win matches hard. »