Coupe de France: Bosz under pressure, Dupraz, Messi against a D5 … 9 reasons to follow the 32nd of finals

Because three Little Thumbs dream of exploits

It is the tradition of this century-old event: the opportunity for clubs to come out of anonymity to rub shoulders with professionals. And this year, after 8 rounds of competition, three members of the 7th French division, regional 2 or regional superior division (DSR), are still in the running: Panazol, Montauban and Chemin-Bas d’Avignon Nîmes. Their task will obviously be difficult – the first two cities will respectively face Vitré (N2) and La Roche-sur-Yon (N3) -, but it is the Nîmes who could create the most resounding feat on Saturday at 4 p.m. against a Ligue 1 club: Clermont.

Because Bosz could play his head

Because Dupraz will lead the Greens for the first time

He officially took the reins of Saint-Etienne this week to launch the operation to maintain the Greens (20th 4 points from the first non-relegation). The most important objective of Pascal Dupraz will be the reception of Nantes next Wednesday to complete the first leg in Ligue 1. But it is well in the Coupe de France during a Rhone derby that looks like a trap at Lyon-La Duchère ( N2) that he will don the coach costume for the first time. If the Stéphanois have a priori everything to lose, it will also be an opportunity to change the ideas of its new players and start a positive cycle.

Because Messi may play against his most unlikely opponent

Lionel Messi spent 20 years at Barça. But never during his professional career in the Catalan club, he has faced a club of the 5th Spanish echelon. For the good and simple reason that the Copa del Rey is only open to the first four divisions. If he is aligned Sunday at 9 p.m. against Feignies-Aulnoye (N3), the Argentinian will discover the Coupe de France and surely the most unexpected opponent since playing among the big boys. Will Mauricio Pochettino expose him to a possible injury against players who are likely over-motivated by the occasion? Nothing is less certain, but the clash of worlds between amateurs and the seven-fold Golden Ball would certainly be worth a look.

Because it will be Mbappé’s last match in 2021

Among the myriad of Parisian stars, he is the one who will perhaps insist the most to play this 32nd final of extremes against Feignies-Aulnoye. By collecting a warning against Monaco last Sunday, Kylian Mbappé deprived himself of the trip to Lorient (19th day of Ligue 1) next Wednesday for which he will be suspended. This Coupe de France match will therefore be his last in 2021. Already author of 20 goals this season (13 with PSG and 7 for the French team), he should be motivated to take care of his statistics before going on vacation .

To see Habib Beye facing an L1

It is one of the events of the season in National: the great debut of Habib Beye as a coach with the Red Star. The former OM player, who has also been a consultant for some time, has taken over the reins of the Ile-de-France club and will face AS Monaco on Sunday (1:45 p.m. on Eurosport 2) in a decidedly spoiled Bauer Stadium after the reception of OL last year. So far, the former side has started timidly before experiencing a real rise in power since mid-November: 6 matches for 5 victories, including two qualifying rounds in the Coupe de France. Faced with Niko Kovac and his flock, the challenge will be much higher. But also frankly exciting.

Because the Tacalfred-Weber duo will be reformed for the Reims derby

Because it’s an opportunity to find missing players like Diakhaby

He was to be Ousmane Dembélé’s successor when he exploded in Rennes in 2016. Five years later, Adama Diakhaby had many setbacks. His failure in England at Huddersfield led him to lower his ambitions and be transferred to Amiens in Ligue 2 just under a year ago. Despite a promising summer preparation, he has had a difficult start to the season, since he has only started on four occasions (the last in October against Toulouse). Not even called up in the Picard group during the last two days, he will perhaps have the opportunity to relaunch in the Cup against Guingamp on Saturday (4 p.m.).

Because there will also be a “shock” between two Ligue 1 clubs

If the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France often put forward a priori unbalanced posters, a 100% Ligue 1 match will still take place. It will even be a Breton derby between Rennes and Lorient on Saturday evening (9 p.m.). The two clubs have one thing in common that they would do without: they both experienced defeat last weekend in the league. Beaten by Nice at home, Bruno Génésio’s men at the same time gave up their place as PSG dolphins in Marseille and they will certainly be hungry for revenge at Roazhon Park. As for the Hakes, they will try to finally stop the bleeding after 7 defeats in a row in Ligue 1.