Tradition obliges, the entry into the running of the Ligue 1 clubs in the Coupe de France, on Saturday January 7, reserved its share of surprises and embarrassing eliminations. The biggest sensation came from Alsace where fans of Olympique Strasbourg, residents of Regional 1 – the equivalent of 6e division – got rid of Clermont, 9e of L1, in front of 3,000 spectators massed in the small Emile-Stahl stadium. The amateurs resisted in regulation time (0-0) before confirming the feat by winning the penalty shootout (4 tabs to 3).
Another weighty victim: Monaco. 5e de L1, which had won its two league games since the post-World Cup resumption, was unable to dominate at home Rodez (Ligue 2) after having led 2-0. ASM was joined (2-2) before losing on penalties (5 pens to 4). Enough to get the Belgian coach Philippe Clement out of his hinges. “It’s unacceptable, that’s for sure. I’m pissed (…) At 2-0, you have to manage the match better”he cursed.
Nice, finalist of the last edition, was defeated 1-0 at Le Puy, 16e and relegation in National (3e division). Surprised from the 3e minute by a goal scored by Mohamed Ben Fredj, the Aiglons did not manage to make up their meager delay. Already struggling in the league (11e), Lucien Favre’s troops sink a little deeper. The Puy club confirms its appetite for elite clubs after leaving Lorient two years ago in the round of 16.
“It’s bigger than the match against Lorientsaid happy coach Roland Vieira after qualifying on Saturday. The step was higher against the finalist of the last edition and a European club. We had the chance to experience it this time with the public”. In March 2021, the feat was carried out behind closed doors due to Covid-19.
Scares for Marseille
The other elite clubs fared better. Marseille had some scares in Hyères, especially after the exclusion in the 15the minute of the Ivorian defender Eric Bailly, guilty of a huge foul on Almike Moussa N’Diaye. The midfielder from Hyères was then transported to the Hôpital Nord de Marseille where he was admitted to the intensive care unit, “as a precaution”, according to the president of the Var club Mourad Boudjellal. Marseille ended up winning 2-0 to ten against eleven.
Lyon, in great difficulty in the league (8e), did not shine but still dismissed Metz (L2) 2-1, just like Lens; the dolphin in L1 of PSG – the Parisian club, without its stars, qualified on Saturday against the formation of National Chateauroux (3-1) – waited for the 72e minute before giving up Linas-Montlhéry (National 3, 5e division) with the score of 2-0. Rennes did not force their talent either with a 2-1 success at Bordeaux (L2), reduced to ten in the second half.
Finally, the Nantes title holder did not tremble against Vire (N3), beaten 2-0, but lost his defender Nicolas Pallois, victim of a sprained knee, to “a few weeks or more”according to coach Antoine Kombouaré.