Spread over three days, these 32nd finals of the Coupe de France do not, strictly speaking, offer a shock but some posters will necessarily be worth a look, not to mention a performance by one of the three little thumbs of the competition (Montauban FC TG, AS Panazol and JS Chemin Bas d’Avignon) is still possible. These three clubs, which evolve at the 7th level of the national level, will bet more than any other on the famous “magic of the Coupe de France”. The latter needs it more than ever after the new incidents that occurred on Friday during the Paris FC-Olympique Lyonnais match.
Rennes-Lorient (Saturday, 9 p.m.): the Merlus want to blow on the Breizh
Breton supremacy at stake at Roazhon Park on Saturday for the only clash between elite clubs. In a match, everything remains playable. On the other hand, over the duration of a Ligue 1 season, Rennes have clearly taken a step ahead. At the end of a vigorous fall, the Rouge et Noir are on the championship podium and qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa Conference Conference. Opposite, after a good start to the season, Lorient remains on 11 games without a win and seven losses in a row. And has just plunged back into the red zone, tied for 19th on points with Metz.
It would take more for Bruno Genesio to make the mistake of taking this match lightly. The Rouge et Noir coach warns: “They are in a negative streak, but it’s another competition. For them, it’s a way out”. A statement corroborated in half-words by his counterpart among the Merlus. “What are we risking?”, argues Christophe Pélissier. “It’s the Cup, it’s up to us to approach it with the idea of the little one, but we also have our arguments to make. If we go in the shoes of the victim, it is not worth it”.
[PROS]
Bruno Genesio: “We need more soul in these matches.”
The statements of coach Rouge et Noir on the eve of #SRFCFCL ⤵
– Stade Rennais FC (@staderennais) December 17, 2021
Lyon – La Duchère-Saint-Etienne (Sunday 1:45 p.m.): Dupraz in hostile territory
Of course, this is not the usual Derby between OL and the Greens. But the antagonism between the two cities is such that Lyon amateurs will necessarily be keen to make their professional counterparts proud. Especially since if there is a team that doubts at the moment it is Saint-Etienne. The Greens have lived a nightmarish first part of the season and this trip to the hated neighbor, even though it only evolves in National 2, is quite a trap. Pascal Dupraz, chief rescuer appointed in place of Claude Puel, dismissed from his duties, will he be able to provide first aid for his baptism on the ASSE bench?
> A meeting to follow on France 3 Régions
Red Star-AS Monaco (Sunday, 1:45 p.m.): Saint-Ouen to reconnect with its past
It is one of the most anticipated matches of the round of 16. Not that the Audonian team represents an extreme threat, on paper, for the Monegasques but because the Saint-Ouen club is a name that has counted in the landscape of French football. Failing to weigh sportily nowadays, the Red Star has for him his past (5 victories in the Coupe de France) and especially the tremendous support of his hot public from his Bauer Stadium, still in the expansion phase. As since the start of the season, the Ile-de-France residents will play in front of closed-box stands and supporters who firmly believe in the feat.
> A meeting to follow on France 3 Régions
Once again, Baer will be sold out. Once again the Green & White people have responded. Once again, the stands will beat to the rhythm of the songs. Thank you once again. Go Red Star! #REDASM pic.twitter.com/ZBVA8Pa2WO
– Red Star FC ✪ (@RedStarFC) December 17, 2021
OM-Le Cannet-Rocheville (Sunday, 1:45 p.m.) and Feignies-Aulnoye-PSG (Sunday, 9:10 p.m.): Marseille and Paris safe?
Barring a huge earthquake, the two clubs do not risk much against opponents playing in National 3. Paris Saint-Germain, defending champion and the most sacred club in the competition (14 trophies), will have the honor of completing the weekend with the reception of Feignies-Aulnoye fans. The northerner club, which will receive the Parisian stars in Valenciennes, sold all its seats in less than two hours on Friday, some supporters having gathered at 4:00 am before the opening of the ticket office reserved for the city of Feignies.
However, not sure that the latter have the opportunity to see Messi or Mbappé on the ground, Mauricio Pochettino surely preferring to preserve his executives three days before the last day before the winter break. The same goes for the Olympique de Marseille. Opposed to Cannet-Rocheville (N3), the Marseille club will not fear a perilous trip: the match was scheduled at the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday, for lack of a stadium unearthed by the 5th division club, whose enclosure was not approved for the meeting.
> A meeting to follow on France3 Régions