Coupe de France | Round of 16

Feb 5, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stadium de Toulouse (Toulouse)

Toulouse vs Guingamp

Match preview

With relegation unlikely and a European push out of the question, all that remains for Toulouse is a potential run in the Coupe de France.

With just two points from their last four league games, Toulouse have fallen well out of the top seven, but a late equaliser from Mark McKenzie against Nice at the weekend means they are still eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Carles Martinez's side have not had an easy time in the cup either, needing a penalty shootout to beat amateur side Hauts Lyonnais in the last 64 before beating Ligue 2 side Laval 2-1 at home in the final round.

After their first Coupe success in 2023, when they defeated Nantes in the final, Toulouse were knocked out of the competition last season by FC Rouen on penalties, 12-11, in the round of 32, continuing their string of exits to lower leagues.

Six of Toulouse's last 10 Coupe de France defeats have come against lower league opposition, including their last exit at this stage, against Versailles in 2022.

Ligue 2 side Guingamp will be hoping to be the next club to inflict a shock defeat on Toulouse, and with local rivals Brest having the time of their lives in Europe at Guingamp's stadium, the visitors will be hoping to make it a memorable cup run of their own.

Morale is high at the club, with Sylvain Ripoli's side making a strong push for promotion, but they stuttered a little at the weekend, losing 1-0 at home to Paris FC.

The defeat ended a six-match unbeaten run, five of which Guingamp had won, but they remain in fifth place, in the play-off places and in the last 16 of the Coupe de France.

Guingamp have had a wild ride in the competition so far, beating Caen thanks to an injury-time winner from Hugo Picard before edging out Sochaux 9-8 on penalties in the last round, with those victories coming after routine wins over amateurs Serquigny-Nassandres and fourth-tier Dinan Lehon.

This is the club's first appearance in the last 16 since 2019, when they were beaten by Lyon, but despite their recent drop to the second tier, Guingamp have been one of the most successful clubs in the competition in recent times.

They beat Rennes in the final in 2009 and 2014, but it was Rennes who knocked them out of the Coupe last season in Guingamp's last meeting with a top-flight club.\

Recent Performance

Toulouse Coupe de France form:WW

Toulouse form (all competitions):WLWDLD

Guingamp Coupe de France form:WWWD

Guingamp form (all competitions):DWDWWL

Team News

Martinez has rotated his Toulouse side slightly in the cup this season, but not to any great extent, and with a tricky test ahead, he could go much further here, especially with little to play for in Ligue 1.

Reserve goalkeeper Alex Dominguez has been loaned out to Eibar, so Guillaume Restes could start between the sticks, while Charlie Cresswell is back from suspension after scoring a goal and assisting in the win over Laval last time out.

Denis Genreau was a regular for Toulouse, but left for Deportivo La Coruna this week, while Niklas Schmidt, Vincent Sierro and Djibril Sidibe are all out injured.

Guingamp have not had any notable arrivals or departures during the transfer window, which will come as a relief as some of their in-form players could be attracting interest from Ligue 1 clubs.

In particular, Picard and Brighton Labeau will be the ones to watch, with the former having scored three goals in Guingamp's last two cup games, as well as three assists in the recent win over Annecy, while Labeau had scored in back-to-back games heading into the weekend.

Alpha Sissoko was banned at the weekend for accumulating yellow cards and will be suspended again after being sent off in the previous round.

Possible starting lineup

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Restes; McKenzie, Cresswell, Akdag; Donnum, Casseres, Zajc, Suazo; Babicka, Magri, Gboho

Guingamp possible starting lineup:

Niasse; Riou, Gomis, Nair, Ourega; Sidibe, Louiserre, Luvambo; Guendouz, Labeau, Picard