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  • Thursday, 22 January 2009

    Coupe de France

    No Ligue 1 action this week as it's the last 32 stage of the French Cup. Unlike the league, this isn't a competition Lyon have dominated of late, though they are the reigning champions. In fact, their fixture backlog meant that their round-of-64 clash with Concarneau takes place this week with the winners - Lyon, you would think - at home to Marseille.
    One game has taken place already, Guingamp beating Brest 2-0 after extra time on Tuesday, and there are two games on Friday; Ligue 1 Lille are at Dunkerque and Vannes take the trip to Corsica to face AC Ajaccio. GFCO Ajaccio are also at home as they welcome PSG to the island. All-Ligue 1 ties are thin on the ground - there are three in total. On Saturday Rennes host struggling St Etienne. Rennes are doing well, but may see the cup as a better way into Europe come season's end. St Etienne need to stop shooting themselves in the foot. Le Havre host Le Mans on Sunday and it's difficult to see them getting any change out of that one. Also on Sunday, Monaco face Nice in something of a local derby. Nice are playing nicely and scoring plenty of goals while Monaco aren't.
    Upsets look unlikely. Tours may be your best bet as they face inconsistent Lorient and Boulogne, second in Ligue 2, are at home to Caen.

    The full draw:
    Guingamp 2-0 Brest (aet. Played Tuesday)

    Friday:
    AC Ajaccio v Vannes
    Dunkerque v Lille

    Saturday:
    Schirrhein v Toulouse
    Dijon v Villefranche-sur-Saône
    Lorient v Tours FC
    Boulogne v Caen
    ESTAC v Rodez
    Vitre v Créteil
    Romorantin v Sedan
    Rennes v St Etienne
    Concarneau v Lyon (round of 64. Winner to play Marseille)

    Sunday:
    Le Havre v Le Mans
    Grande-Synthe v Grenoble
    GFCO Ajaccio v PSG
    Monaco v Nice

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