The oldest of French (Site notre bureau spécialisé) competitions, more than a century old, re-enacts its a priori unbalanced duels, sometimes cruel for the « little thumbs » with big dreams, but also at the origin of incredible happy endings for the amateur world.
Last season, the « magic » of the Cup worked with FC Versailles 78, also in National 2 (the equivalent of the 4the division), who defeated Toulouse in particular and reached the semi-finals.
Marseille against Mourad Boudjellal’s club
La Berrichonne de Châteauroux, not at best with a 14e place in National, would like to imitate the course of the Yvelinois. The gap nevertheless seems abysmal against the Parisian ogre, probably determined to redeem himself after his first defeat of the season, dimension to Lens (3-1).
However, there may be something to play against the capital club, deprived of many stars: Marco Verratti is suspended, Lionel Messi, who has just returned from Argentina, is not playing, Achraf Hakimi and Kylian Mbappé are on leave. And Neymar, hit in an ankle during the World Cup, will be spared.
« There are absentees for X reasons but tomorrow we will have a very competitive team, » commented coach Christophe Galtier on Thursday, playing time prompter « to certain young people ».
I would obviously want to meet the greatest. I’m a little disappointed that not everyone, for the supporters, also came to see this great team.
Maxence Flachez, coach of Châteauroux
A new disappointment should have raised the temperature at PSG, surprised by Nice (0-0, 6-5 pens) last year at the stage of the knockout stages.
The Riviera club, finalist of the previous edition, begins its new campaign on Saturday (6:00 p.m.) in Auvergne against Le Puy, resident of National 1. Same day, same time, defending champion Nantes will be in Normandy to face AF Virois, representative of the fifth division (N3). The match will be played at the Michel-d’Ornano stadium normally occupied by Caen, eliminated for having eliminated a player suspended in the previous round against Vire.
The Coupe de France was a bonus. Arriving in the 32nd final and if we had been able to play the match at the Mayol stadium, it was as if we had won this Coupe de France. So now we’ve lost her, it’s over. The party is ruined
Mourad Boudjellal
the objective is simply to take less than 10 but because two figures that would be a shame. But we were disrespected! The only choice I can say is that OM don’t have to worry. Everything is going to be fine for them in this game
The program of the 32nd finals
friday 6 january
6:00 p.m.
Strasbourg (L1) – Angers (L1)
Paris FC (L2) – Valenciennes (L2)
Pau (L2) – Montpellier (L1)
Grenoble (L2) – Nimes (L2)
9:00 p.m.
Chateauroux (Nat) – Paris SG (L1)
saturday 7 january
1:00 p.m.
Evreux (N2) – SC Bastia (L2)
RC Grasse (N2) – La Tamponnaise
3:30 p.m.
ESA Linas-Montlhéry (N3) – Lens (L1)
Olympique Strasbourg (R1) – Clermont (L1)
Lyon (L1) – Metz (L2)
Avranches (Nat) – Brest (L1)
Marseille (L1) – Hyeres (N2)
4:00 p.m.
Fired (N3) – Nantes (L1)
6:00 p.m.
Thaon (N3) – Amiens (L2)
Villerupt Thil (R1) – Annecy (Nat)
US Granvillaise (N2) – Niort (L2)
Stade Plabennecois (N3) – Vannes (N2)
Le Puy (N2) – Nice (L1)
Monaco (L1) – Rodez (L2)
8:45 p.m.
Bordeaux (L2) – Rennes (L1)
tuesday january 8
3:30 p.m.
Belfort (N2) – Saint-Quentin (N2)
Loon Plage (R1) – Reims (L1)
Chamalières (N2) – Bourges (Site notre blog d’information) 18 (N2)
Chestnut (R1) – Lorient (L1)
South Jura (N2) – AC Ajaccio (L1)
4:00 p.m.
Reims Sainte Anne (N3) – Pays de Cassel US (R1)
6:00 p.m.
Oats (N3) – Vierzon (Site notre blog d’information) (N2)
Dunkirk (Nat) – Auxerre (L1)
Pontivyen Stadium (R1) – Les Herbiers (N2)
Lannion (N3) – Toulouse (L1)
Aubagne FC (N2) – Chambery SF (N3)
8:45 p.m.
Lille (L1) – Troyes (L1)
At the same time, Lyon will be on their side looking for a breath of fresh air against Metz (L2), while their most fervent supporters rail against the poor dynamics of the club recently transferred to the American flag.
The two main groups denounced « a parade of smug, characterless, soulless guys who wallow in mediocrity », Wednesday in a joint statement, « the starting point for future actions ».
The weekend will end on Sunday (8:45 p.m.) in Lille with an L1 duel against Troyes.
Draw Sunday night
The meeting will be given priority by the draw, at 8:00 p.m. at the co-broadcaster beIN Sports, of the 1/16 finals. It will be carried out by the international attachment of the Blues Clara Matéo, player of Paris FC, and the former international handball goalkeeper, Thierry Omeyer.
