Le Puy in full dream, PSG qualified, Lyon on its way… What to remember from Wednesday’s round of 16

One week before the return of the Champions League, PSG has not yet particularly shone, but validated its qualification for the quarters against Brest (3-1). The big surprise is the feat of Puy (N2), the new Tom Thumb.

Continuation and almost end of the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. Seven of the eight qualified for the next round are known, while waiting to know the outcome of Rouen-Monaco, Thursday 8 FEBRUARY. Four other Ligue 1 clubs joined Rennes, qualified the day before thanks to an easy success at Sochaux (6-1), in this case PSG (3-1 against Brest), Lyon (2-1 against Lille), Nice (4-1 in Montpellier) and Strasbourg (3-1 against Le Havre). National resident 2, the 4th division, Le Puy created a surprise against Laval (L2). Finally, Valenciennes (L2) ended up having the skin of Petit Poucet, Saint-Priest (N3).

Paris qualified, but fear for Mbappé

Against Brest, the scenario almost repeated itself for the third time this season. Paris quickly led 2-0, thanks first to Kylian Mbappé, author of his 30th goal in 2023-2024 on a powerful strike from a tight angle (34th). Danilo Pereira immediately made the break by taking a good pass from Ousmane Dembélé (37th). Behind, the Breton club did not give up and reduced the score in the second act with a victorious header from Steve Mounié (65th). Gonçalo Ramos ended the evening well by scoring from close range (90th + 2).

This time, no equalizer for Stade Brestois (which had obtained it twice in Ligue 1, finally losing 3-2 at home before holding a draw at the Parc des Princes). The Pirates’ momentum was slowed by the expulsion of defender Lilian Brassier, guilty of a bad gesture on the ankle of Kylian Mbappé, who turned. The latter also spent a few moments lying on the lawn. Despite the imminence of the Champions League round of 16 against Real Sociedad (Wednesday February 14), Luis Enrique did not replace his star player, who limped, but finished the match.

Le Puy steals the status of Petit Poucet

A National 2 club will compete in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. Le Puy believed in it until the end against Stade Lavallois. Despite being two divisions apart, the Ponots beat the surprise team of the Ligue 2 season (2-1). After leading the score for almost an hour of play (from the 25th to the 85th), Malik Tchokounté’s equalizer did not take them out of the match. The incoming Nicolas Pays obtained a penalty at the very end of the match which Jules Meyer was responsible for transforming (90th + 5) to score a double.

At the same time, Saint-Priest looked Valenciennes in the eye, but failed to achieve one more feat. The National 3 club gave in at the end of the match after responding to Andrew Jung’s (31st) opener with Marwane Benhmida (41st). The Malian on loan from Lorient, Siriné Doucouré, put an end to the course of the San-Priods who will have to refocus on the fight for promotion to the fourth division.

Lyon confirms its second wind

Having left the red zone in Ligue 1, OL intends not to stop there. Pierre Sage’s players achieved a prestigious success against Lille (2-1), the seventh in their last 10 matches in all competitions. Winter recruit Gift Orban showed the way by opening the scoring with a nice dive (40th), before Rayan Cherki made the break after returning from the locker room (47th). Alexsandro quickly reduced the score for Losc, but in vain (53rd).

“If we want to establish things, we had to increase our intensity of play. I find that over the last three matches, it has been progressive. We have not yet reached fullness but we are moving forward”, tempered the Gones coach after the meeting. Lyon will compete in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France for the sixth time in the last seven editions. Conversely, Lille will not see the color for the seventh season in a row.