Bourgoin-Jallieu creates a surprise and eliminates Lyon, PSG struggles against Espaly

A snub: Olympique Lyonnais (OL) was eliminated, Wednesday January 15, from the Coupe de France in the round of 16, on penalties, by Bourgoin-Jallieu, the team at the top of the National 3 table (the fifth French division) where the players are semi-professional (2-2, then 4-2 on penalties). However, OL led 2-1 twenty minutes from the end of regulation time.

This penalty shootout was an ordeal for Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso, two major figures at Olympique Lyonnais where they were trained, who missed their team’s first two attempts, stopped by goalkeeper Ronan Jay. For his part, goalkeeper Lucas Perri was only able to repel one.

Under freezing temperatures and on bumpy terrain, OL once again delivered too poor a performance in line with those displayed since the start of 2025. Against the Berjalliens, they experienced a difficult first period during which the Rhone residents were first led by a goal from Mehdi Moujetsky who deceived Lucas Perri with a good cross shot (21^e minute). Until then in managerial mode, Nemanja Matic, who had made too little effort in the midfield, equalized just before half-time for OL by victoriously recovering a cross delivered from the right wing by Saïd Benrahma ( 45^e).

A first since 2014

In the second half, Georges Mikautadze, served by Rayan Cherki, gave the Lyonnais the advantage with a cross shot (64^e). This goal from the Georgian international seemed likely to allow Lyon to qualify.

But Moujetsky managed to put Bourgoin back in the game with his second goal of the evening, taking advantage of a bad back pass from Warmed Omari to adjust Perri (69^e). Subsequently, OL missed several opportunities to regain the advantage, notably by Malick Fofana who failed before the exit of goalkeeper Ronan Jay (73^e) before Cherki missed the target on a lob (73^e). Fofana also missed the cage when receiving a cross from Benrahma (75th).

Olympique Lyonnais are the first Ligue 1 team to be eliminated by a fifth division team since Bordeaux against Ile Rousse in 2014. “We showed neither pride nor honor. We will have to bear the shame in front of our loved ones, the people who love the club, our leaders. It’s almost a tragedy.”commented at the end of the meeting, Lyon coach Pierre Sage.

PSG is scared

Facing Espaly, another amateur club from National 3, PSG almost suffered the same fate, which would have been a stain on the capital club, undefeated leader of Ligue 1. At the Marcel-Michelin stadium in Clermont-Ferrand, the defending champion of the competition was far from having a great day.

The Parisians, surprised from the 3^e minute by a goal from Kevis Gjeci, were trailing for more than half an hour, before Warren Zaire-Emery equalized with a clear strike from the edge of the area (1-1, 37^e). In the second half, Désiré Doué (2-1, 67^e) allowed Paris to lead the score less than five minutes because the Parisian defense, too feverish, collapsed in the process (2-2, 71^e).

It was Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos, although in difficulty and manhandled by the opposing defense almost the entire match, who ended up allowing Paris to avoid a shameful scenario: the first delivered his own on a cross from Nuno Mendes (3 -2.88^e) and the second converted a penalty straight away (4-2, 90 + 2).

For this match, the Spanish coach of PSG, Luis Enrique, made a lot of changes by starting Arnau Tenas in goal, and the Parisian “titis” Senny Mayulu, Yoram Zague (left at half-time) and Axel Tape ( 17 years old), who played his first match in the Parisian jersey in central defense with Lucas Hernandez. Everyone missed their game.

Rennes eliminated by Troyes

“I congratulate the Espaly coach, Lionel Vaillant, they were in their match, without using unfair weapons, they were at the level, which complicated things for us”explained Luis Enrique, regretting the poor quality of the lawn. “We must be able to play everywhere, we are delighted that this competition exists but for the good of all, the conditions deserve to be better”he explained.

“Two minutes are missing to make a perfect copy, we were two minutes away from a great feat”he stressed, “and we gave a beautiful image of amateur football because it was really David against Goliath”declared, for his part, the coach of the National 3 club, Lionel Vaillant.

In the other matches of the day, Toulouse beat Laval (2-1), Angers defeated Quevilly-Rouen (3-2), Troyes created a surprise by eliminating Rennes (1-0), Saint-Brieuc qualified on penalties at the expense of Annecy (1-1, 4-3), Cannes created the feat against Lorient (2-1), Brest beat Nantes (2-1) and Strasbourg East was scary, but finally qualified against Thaon (2-2, 5-3).