→ There are fine gourmets there
Espaly-Saint-Marcel may only have 3,500 inhabitants, but the small town counts among its ranks two bakers and pastry chefs whose creations would catch the eye of any lover of pastries and other sweets. On one side, the Mallet bakery, a partner of the club with truly appetizing cakes, on the other, the pastry chef Yann Sabot, certainly based in Le Puy, but a fervent supporter, whose macaroons will very quickly delight the football school. In short, a perfect panel for a nice reception or a qualifying celebration for example. In the latter case, you will certainly also have to think about stopping by the Rocher bar, a loyal partner of the club and above all a stronghold of the most seasoned supporters of FC Espaly.
→ It doesn't have the biggest stadium in the city, but it has the most beautiful
With its 460-seat stand, the Viouzou stadium is not the most imposing of venues. Especially since the Charles-Massot stadium, located a few kilometers further, can accommodate 10 times more, except that it is used by the neighbor of National 2 of Puy-en-Velay. A little snub to the commune quickly erased by the particularity of the Rouge et Noir enclosure. Posted at the foot of the Espaly organs, which give it an air of the Turbie of Monaco, it is located along the road to Santiago de Compostela and above all gives a unique setting to the stadium, overlooked by an immense “ HERE IS THE VIOUZOU » which adorns the platform. In 2023, threatened by a falling rock, it even had to close its doors for a few months. The stands of Marcel-Michelin, with their air “ flat ”, will try to return the favor.
→ This will be PSG’s first Qatari-Qatari confrontation
You had to see this one coming! While PSG has reigned supreme over French football for more than twelve years, it has so far not encountered any Qatari investors along its path. Americans, a Luxembourger, Canadians, Russians, but never yet a Qataris. Well now the anomaly will be repaired! Indeed, the Parisians are preparing to face the “ Qatari d’Espaly ”, no more and no less. This Qatari is Christian Perbet, president of the club, who spoke in the columns of Parisian at Christmas time. « I have been at the head of the club for a dozen years and we have progressed almost non-stop since I took office. We left the District to join the N3. So for a laugh, the friends made this parallel with PSG which wins everything, or almost, in France over the same period. » Honestly, how can you prove them wrong?
→ The club travels with all its friends, really all of them
If Saint-Étienne still lives with the legendary square posts of its European Champion Clubs' Cup final in its memory, Espaly is creating the legend of its own goals. Indeed, the Altoligère team decided to lug its amounts to Clermont to face PSG. If it is firstly because the Marcel-Michelin stadium does not have its own goals, it is also for a certain symbolism that Christian Perbet decided to travel the approximately 130 kilometers which separate the two enclosures to his cages : « Even if it means shaking the nets, let them be ours! » Jacky Malige, manager, already sees further in the event of an exploit. « We do this so that the goals bring us luck. We will take them to the final at the Stade de France. » Simple and effective.
→ The captain has already brought down Ligue 1s
If FC Espaly is rather in difficulty this season in its National 3 group with a 12e place in 12 matches (13 points), he can count on his captain Joachim Ichane to lead his troops successfully. Author of the decisive penalty against Dijon in the previous round, the defender above all has a lot of baggage behind him. Having passed through Niort, Laval, Reims and Le Puy, he has 22 Ligue 2 matches to his credit and some 134 National matches. While PSG is looking for its 16e Coupe de France, he will compete in his 16the meeting in the competition. A coincidence? Certainly not! In his glory days, then in Ligue 2 with Reims, he even brought down Montpellier and Rennes during the same edition of the Coupe de France in 2011, while the Champenois had reached the quarter-finals. Between us, we can also suspect Emanuel Bernardino, municipal councilor, of hiding one or two capes under the jersey of Selection as well as a stint with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Lille cools OM on penalties
