In a battle for a place in the final four of Coupe de France, two top-flight teams go head-to-head as Angers play host to Reims this Tuesday.

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In a fixture that has favoured the away side in recent years, with five of the last six meetings ending in defeat for the hosts, Angers will be eager to break the trend this time.

While all those encounters have come in Ligue 1, with the Black and Whites suffering three losses at Stade Raymond Kopa, they also had no luck on home soil in their only previous French Cup tie against Tuesday's visitors, losing on penalties in the fourth round of 2020-21.

That adds a layer of wariness for Angers, especially considering their struggles in front of their crowd this season, having fallen short in six of their 11 home fixtures in the top flight while managing just three victories and two draws in that stretch.

Additionally, Alexandre Dujeux's side are yet to be tested on their own turf in the French Cup this season, with all three of their previous encounters coming on the road, eliminating Hanau 93, Quevilly and, most recently, securing a 3-1 triumph at Strasbourg to advance in the competition.

Les Scoistes have now reached the quarter-finals for the second time in five seasons and will be aiming for their first semi-final appearance since 2016-17, when they made it to the final but fell to Paris Saint-Germain.

Angers head into this contest following a thrilling 3-3 draw at Saint-Etienne last weekend, where Bamba Dieng rescued a point from the spot in the 94th minute, leaving Le SCO 12th in the Ligue 1 standings.

Meanwhile, Reims have endured a torrid 2024-25 campaign, with Friday's 1-0 defeat against Rennes extending their losing streak to three matches and leaving the Red and Whites a point and a place behind the hosts in the league table.

Amid their struggles, the French Cup has offered a much-needed respite for Les Rouges et Blancs, who brushed aside ASS Still Mutzig before battling past Monaco in extra time and eventually edging Bourgoin-Jallieu on penalties after a goalless draw to advance.

That triumph marked the beginning of Samba Diawara's tenure, guiding the team to their first quarter-finals since the 2011-12 season.

The new boss, having now overseen four matches, will be eager to end his losing streak as he looks to lead Reims to their first semi-final appearance in 37 years.

Angers possible starting lineup:

Fofana; Raolisoa, Bamba, Lefort, Hanin; Belkebla, Capelle; Ferhat, Abdelli, Allevinah; Dieng

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Buta, Okumu, Kipre, Akieme; Sangui, Gbane, Edoa; Ito, Nakamura, Diakhon