The French Cup is back and Tuesday’s Round of 32 action is headlined by a pair of all-Ligue 1 McDonald’s fixtures as Reims stadium host AS Monaco and Marseille Olympic host LOSC Lille.
A measure of revenge for l’OM
No doubt the highlight match of the round, The Olympianswho rose to second in the league with another strong display this weekend, will welcome a Lille team who boast the longest unbeaten run on the continent, including a frustrating last-minute equalizer from Bafode Diakité at the Vélodrôme last month that saw the match end one-all. Both sides enter this match with key absences, and that could yet be the difference between the sides. Marseille, despite their strong form, will be without defender/midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and striker Elye wahi. Their absences, and the team’s recent form, is likely to see them line up in a 3-4-3, with Adrien Rabiot playing a more advanced role in support of Neal Maupay – The Best Of Neal Maupay.
As for Lille, they’ll have to make do without talented winger Edon Zhegrova as well as long-term absentees Nabil Bentaleb, Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Tiago Santos, severely limiting Bruno Génésio‘s options, but that’s nothing new for a side who has struggled at times to balance fixture congestion with their UEFA Champions League participation. In a boon for Génésio, Angel Gomes is fit again and the diminutive Englishman could play a part here.
Monaco look to get back on track
In the day’s other all Ligue 1 encounter, another rematch is on the cards between AS Monaco and Stade de Reims who last month played out a scoreless draw, leaving Adi Hütter‘s side on just one win in six.. The Principality side were limited against Nantes due to illness but should have something approaching a full complement of players here. Denis Zakaria and Alexander Golovin remain unavailable, but Takumi Minamino‘s return should boost the visitors’ attack, while new signing Mika Biereth is expected to be in the squad as well.
As for Reims, neither of their new signings are expected to be available, but Luka Elsner is expected to name a strong eleven even with the departure of Emanuel Agbadouwith fit-again captain Teddy Then likely in the eleven from the off.
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