Once again in crisis, Olympique de Marseille is playing big against Rennes on Tuesday in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, its last chance to finally win a trophy and save a very poorly off season, the two other favorites, Lyon and Lens, facing Ligue 2 teams.
Rolled out in Bruges (3-0), ousted from the Champions League, recovered in the last minutes by Paris FC (2-2): OM, who have not won a single title since a League Cup in 2012, are going through one of these storms of which they are accustomed.
“We owe a debt to the supporters,” conceded coach Roberto De Zerbi after the new disillusionment with the PFC which threatens the club’s place on the Ligue 1 podium (3rd). In these conditions, the Coupe de France acts as a lifeline, especially since the final table has cleared up with the elimination of Paris Saint-Germain, winner of eight of the last eleven editions.
But OM has fond memories of the last equivalent opportunity: in 2023 it itself eliminated PSG (2-1) in the round of 16 before falling in the next round at home against an L2 club, Annecy (2-2, 7 tab to 6). With the ogre of the Parc des Princes aside, the other tenors of France also hope to seize the opportunity to add a line to their record.
Lyon and Lens advance as favorites
Lyon starts as a clear favorite at home ahead of Laval on Wednesday. Les Gones finished at the top of the league phase in the Europa League, returned to the podium (4th) in Ligue 1 tied on points with OM and have just unearthed a gem with the loan of the Brazilian from Real Madrid Endrick, already the author of 4 goals in four matches. Opposite, Laval is in a relegated position in the L2 ranking.
The same day, Lens also faces an L2 team since it travels to the lawn of the leader, Troyes. The Sang et Or, the only ones to keep up with PSG in L1 (2nd), dream of winning their first Coupe de France after three failures in the final (1948, 1975, 1998). These 8th finals reserve two other oppositions between elite clubs.
A Coupe de France more open than ever
Paris FC, who beat PSG (1-0), travel to Lorient on Wednesday and Strasbourg hosts Monaco for the last match on Thursday. For the first time in 35 years, no club beyond the second division reached the round of 16 of this event traditionally full of surprises.
At least one L2 club will play the quarters since Reims and Le Mans face each other directly in Champagne for the first match of the 8th, Tuesday. The two clubs are also in the fight for promotion to L1.
Finally Toulouse, winner of the event in 2023, receives Amiens, play-off in L2, and Nice, in great difficulty this season, welcomes another L2 club, Montpellier, on Wednesday.
The program: Tuesday: (8:30 p.m.) Reims (L2)-Le Mans (L2) (9:10 p.m.) Marseille-Rennes Wednesday: (8:30 p.m.) Toulouse-Amiens (L2) Nice-Montpellier (L2) Lyon-Laval (L2) Lorient-Paris FC (9:00 p.m.) Troyes (L2)-Lens Thursday: (9:00 p.m.) Strasbourg-Monaco
Worth a look
