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Coupe de France Preview: Reims are back in Angers

In a busy season for Ligue 1 McDonald's clubs, quick-fire reunions have become all the rage. Shortly after squaring off in the league, Stade Brestois and Paris Saint-Germain met in the Champions League, while the capital side and AS Monaco squared off three times in just over a month across the Trophée des Champions and two league matches. Now, in the Coupe de France, it's the turn of Angers SCO, who will welcome Stade de Reims just nine days after defeating the eastern side 1-0 on the road. With a place in the semifinals on the line, there's no doubting both sides will be well up for this encounter -- read on for all the latest...
E. DEVIN
Published on 02/25/2025 at 01:00
2-minute read
Just nine days after a clash in Ligue 1 McDonald's, Angers and Reims will square off with a place in the Coupe de France semifinals on the line.

No Lepaul, no party?

After an early season filled with struggles, Angers have quietly turned things around of late. Once nailed to the foot of the table, their first win of the Ligue 1 campaign only coming on Matchday 9, things have slowly coalesced for the Breton side in the time since. Indeed, since the turn of the year, Alexandre Dujeux's side has picked up fourteen points from eight matches -- a figure bettered by only four teams in the division.

Much of that strong form has been down to Esteban Lepaul -- the striker has found the net six times in all competitions since the start of 2025, but will unfortunately miss this clash through injury. Ibrahima Niane is likely to start in his place, but manager Dujeux is ebullient about his team, underscoring that their climb up the table (and progress in this competition is the result of hard work, saying "Today, we are in a pretty good position for which we have worked. We are happy to be there but nothing is done and I often say that."

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A welcome respite

To say that this has been a challenging season for Reims would be an understatement. The team were in the mix for Europe for much of last season before falling away at its end, with Will Still departing on bad terms with the club. His replacement, Luka Elsner, is also now gone, having departed along with key players Marshall Munetsi and Emmanuel Agbadou in the January window. Since Elsner's final match -- an ugly home loss to fellow relegation candidate FC Nantes, things have scarcely improved, though. 

Despite the impressive talent of Japanese wingers Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura, the Champagne club have failed to score in any of their last four matches in any competitions, needing a penalty shootout to eliminate Bourgoin-Jallieu in the Round of 16. Now only three points above the relegation zone, new boss Samba Diawara is under pressure to turn things around in a hurry. With a chance for a first Coupe de France semifinal since 1988 on the line, this match has the chance to distract from their sorry league season in a big way.

Predicted lineups:

Angers SCO (4-2-3-1): Zinga; Raolisoa, Biumla, Lefort, Ekomié; Aholou, Belkebla; El-Melali, Abdelli, Allevinah; Niane

Stade de Reims (4-2-3-1): Diouf; Buta (or Sekine), Okumu, Gbane, Akieme (or Sangui); Atangana, Koné, Nakamura, Teuma, Ito; Diakité

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>> One To Watch: Leroux takes flight

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