Coupe de France | Round of 32

Jan 15, 2025 at 8pm UK

Espaly-Saint-Marcel vs PSG

Match preview

They have already written their names in the competition's history books, but on Wednesday Espaly can pull off what could go down as the greatest Coupe de France upset of all time.

After two wins on the road to the last 64, the club from the south of France showed resilience against Dijon, equalising with less than 20 minutes remaining and holding on from the spot to reach this stage of the competition for the first time.

They have been on a roll in the build-up to this fixture, going unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions.Lionel Vaillant's men are third from bottom in their Championnat National 3 group, with 13 points from 12 league games.

Espaly have never lost a game in which they have scored more than once in 2024, winning nine of their 10 matches in all competitions.

Meanwhile, they have not lost any of their last seven home matches, but have failed to win any of their last four.

Lens gave PSG everything they could handle in their opening match of the competition, but the defending champions held on to claim victory.

Les Parisiens have reached the last 32 of the Coupe de France in 10 successive seasons since they were knocked out by Montpellier HSC 2-1 in the fourth round in 2014.

PSG began 2025 by winning the Trophee des Champions and go into this midweek clash on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Their last three competitive away games have all ended in victory for Luis Enrique's men, who have scored nine goals and conceded just three in that time.

They have only trailed in three Ligue 1 games this season, while Les Parisiens have only been held to a goalless draw by a French opponent once, a 0-0 home draw with Auxerre last December.

Only once in the last 15 editions of the Coupe de France have they been knocked out by a team from a lower division, losing to Rodez in the last 16 in 2009.

Recent Performance

Espaly-Saint-Marcel Coupe de France form:WWW

Espaly-Saint-Marcel form (all competitions):DWDDWD

Paris Saint-Germain Coupe de France form:W

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):WWWWWW

Team News

Between the win over Dijon and their previous Coupe de France triumph against Couzeix-Chaptelat (3-0), Espaly introduced five new faces to their starting eleven, including Gabay Allaigre, Kais Salah Bendriss, Lucas Russo, Kevin Portal and Kevis Gjeci.

Gjeci scored three minutes after Dijon had taken the lead, while goalkeeper Jordan Etienne was the hero in the shoot-out, saving two penalties before Joachim Ichane scored the winner from 12 yards.

Many names have been linked with a move away from PSG this transfer window, including Randal Kolo Muani, who has been linked with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, while Marco Asensio has been linked with a move to Aston Villa and the French giants could be close to signing Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Goncalo Ramos scored the equaliser against Lens in their last Coupe de France tie, while Matvey Safonov saved the last two penalties to send them through to the next round.

Possible starting lineup

Espaly-Saint-Marcel possible starting lineup:

Etienne; Allaigre, Bendriss, Curt, Uzun, Mezaber; Ichane, Portal, Ait Boulaalam, Gjeci; Fournel

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:

Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Mbaye, Ramos, Barcola