Coupe de France: Stade Malherbe will play its 32nd final in Guingamp, Dives-Cabourg will host Saint-Denis (Reunion)

The Lower Normandy clubs are set on their fate in the Coupe de France. The draw for the 32nd finals took place this Monday, December 2 in the early evening. The Stade Malherbe will take to the Guingamp pitch, while Dives-Cabourg will host the Réunionnais from Saint-Denis at the Heurtematte stadium.

Caen reunites with an old acquaintance

For Caen, the draw is not very encouraging. SMC was beaten this season by Guingamp in Ligue 2 at the Roudourou stadium (3-1 defeat on September 30). Nicolas Seube hoped to play at home. “We always play away, we rarely have an advantage in this competition. [Guingamp]it's a solid team, performing well at home, we've already paid the price this season“, deplores the coach. Before this meeting, Malherbe will have two other trips on the program: to Laval this Friday, December 6 and to Dunkirk on December 16.

Another overseas team for Dives-Cabourg

On the other hand, for Dives-Cabourg, the draw is clearly more favorable. After largely dominating AS Dragon (Tahiti) 6-1 on Saturday November 30the National 3 club therefore welcomes another overseas team, FC Saint-Denis. If successful, the Normans would qualify for the round of 16, a first in their history. In 1999, Lille (which was playing in Ligue 2 at the time) ended their adventure (1-0). Faced with this Reunion team, Dives has a real card to play, but coach Philippe Clément remains cautious. “We are satisfied to receive because we will have benchmarks. Afterwards, this team has a level similar to ours. Saint-Denis often has very good runs in the Coupe de France. We know their striker Mamoudou Diallo well who is an excellent player, he came to us a few years ago. We will be careful but we have the possibility of surpassing the old ones from 1999, I hope that we will be up to the occasion“.

Facing Tahiti at the Heurtematte stadium in Dives, the Lower Normandy club was able to count on the support of nearly 1,400 supporters. Announced favorite, Dives did not lie. But itThe match against Saint-Denis promises to be tougher than against AS Dragon in the eyes of the coach. “Reunion is another level than Polynesia. They have just beaten Vertou, a Nationale 3 team“, insists Philippe Clément.

These Coupe de France matches will take place on the weekend of December 21, just before the winter break.