Thirteen Ile-de-France clubs are on deck from this Friday during the 7th round of the Coupe de France which marks the entry into the running of Ligue 2 clubs including Paris FC and Red Star. After 3 draws in the championship (0-0 at Amiens and Pau and 3-3 against Rodez), Paris FC, leader of L2, hosts Quevilly-Rouen-Métropole (Nat.) this Friday evening who were still playing in the antechamber of L1 last season. The PFC will be deprived of 4 internationals: goalkeeper Nkambadio who left for the Espoirs (replaced by the experienced Rémy Riou), Ollila (Finland), Soumahoro (U20) and Krasso (Ivory Coast).
“The Coupe de France is a dream for both amateurs and professionals,” says coach Stéphane Gilli. We will try to return to victory. We want to win every match but we are expected to do so more and more. The counter is still running even if we would like it to run faster. The positive point is playing at home in Charléty on a good pitch against a good team. This will prepare us for the next match against Annecy. We will try to go as far as possible but the reality is that we will have a difficult match. »
Relegated (17th) in the league for the first time in the league after the slap received against Troyes (0-3) last Friday, the Red Star (L2), five-time winner of the Coupe de France, travels to the northerners of Haubourdin on Saturday (R3) which is 6 divisions apart from the Seine-Saint-Denis formation. Hachem will be back after serving his match suspension. Dembi (Congo) and Fodé Doucouré (Mali) are on selection while Mendy, Danger and Rayane Doucouré are still injured.
“The Coupe de France can bring freshness”
“We want to get through the rounds. The Coupe de France is a human adventure which can bring freshness, says coach Grégory Poirier. We are prepared to experience a difficult season because we have a maintenance objective and this start of the season confirms it. There will be rotations in the team. We have the objective of winning, of going as far as possible and gaining confidence on the offensive aspect. »
Undefeated since the start of the season in all competitions (10 wins and 3 draws), FC Fleury (N2) welcomes the pros of SC Amiens (6th in L2) on Saturday. A year after being eliminated by Angers (0-2) at the same stage of the competition, Houilles AC (R1), coached by Michaël Ciani, challenges Boulogne-sur-Mer on Saturday, which occupies 4th place in the National. FC Versailles (Nat.), now under the leadership of Jordan Gonzales, will have a perilous trip on Saturday to Canet-Roussillon (N3), defeater of OM (2-1) almost 4 years ago. Sunday, Les Ulis (R1) will host Calais (Nat.), finalist of the Coupe de France in 2000 against Nantes (beaten 2-1). “It’s an important day for the club!” enthuses technician Hamas Camara. We want to make Ulis history by reaching the 8th round for the first time. It’s going to be a big party. »
THE FRANCILIAN CLUBS PROGRAM:
Friday, 8 p.m.: PARIS FC (L2) – Quevilly-Rouen-Metropole (Nat.) (Charléty stadium, Paris 13th). Saturday, 2 p.m.: HOUILLES AC (R1) – Boulogne-sur-Mer (Nat.) (Maurice-Baquet stadium), Corte (N3) – LINAS-MONTLHERY (N3); 3 p.m.: Haubourdin (R3 Hauts-de-France) – RED STAR (L2); 6 p.m.: JA DRANCY (N3) – Pays-de-Cassel (N3) (Charles-Sage stadium), FLEURY (N2) – SC Amiens (L2) (Auguste-Gentelet stadium), Canet-Roussillon (N3) – VERSAILLES (Nat.) ; 7 p.m.: Calais Beau Marais (R1 Haus-de-France) – PARIS 15e AC (R2). Sunday, 2 p.m.: Bourse (D1 Artois) – BOBIGNY (N2), Anstaing-Chereng (R3 Hauts-de-France) – AUBERVILLIERS (N2), Roubaix RC (N2 Hauts-de-France) – NEUILLY-SUR-MARNE (N3), LES ULIS (R1) – Calais RC (N3) (stade Jean-Marc Salinier), Lliancourt-Clermont (R2 Hauts-de-France) – BRETIGNY (N3).