Before thinking about the quarter-final against Olympique de Marseille or against FC Metz, both teams will have to face off in the former stronghold of the most famously stingy person in French football to gain the advantage in a minimum of 90 minutes, possibly leading to the so cruel penalty shoot-out.
On September 15th, Lejeune and Niculae secured victory for Jean Fernandez’s men, leading to a tough match filled with seven yellow cards and one red card, which will be the trigger for Auxerre as they went on to defeat Marseille (2-0) and Lorient (5-3). However, the Aiglons will need to perform as well as Bordeaux and Rennes, who managed to win this season at Auxerre with a score of 2-0. This will be the price to pay for a place in the quarter-final of the Cup.
Lilian Laslandes will not be returning to the club of his beginnings (1992-97) due to injury, but Hugo Lloris and Onyekachi Apam will travel to support their teammates in a match that Frédéric Antonetti has deemed crucial, declaring “No question of ignoring it,” which sets the directive for his red-and-black squad. Diakité, Gace, or Bamogo could be the major beneficiaries of this round of the Cup by starting from the beginning of the match.
The LFP has appointed the referees for the match, with Hervé Piccirillo officiating as the referee, assisted by MM. Thoison and Boisdenghien.
The Nice squad: Letizi, Moreau, Barul, Hognon, Kante, Abardonado, Gace, Yahaya, Rool, Echouafni, Diakite, Balmont, Hellebuyck, Traore, Larbi, Job, Kone, Modeste.
