Fifth-tier club RC Calais seek to stun Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in Saturday's round of 64 Coupe de France encounter at Stade de l'Epopee.
The hosts, established 18 months ago in June 2023 after Calais Racing Union's 2017 liquidation, have already outdone last year's run and aim to secure a spot in the round of 32 at the expense of their top-flight visitors.
Match preview
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Calais could inflict one of the domestic cup's biggest shock results this weekend when they take on Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg side.
The hosts had a promising first year after its establishment, securing promotion to the Championnat National 3 at the first time of asking, even if results in the fifth tier have been mixed, highlighted by notching three wins in 11 league games, placing them 10th on 13 points, one shy of dropping into the dreaded spots.
Results in the cup have been more uplifting, with Olivier Laridon's men beating Les Ulis (3-1) and Le Touquet (1-0) to set up this weekend's meeting with their Ligue 1 visitors.
Last term's journey ended with defeat in the eighth round to Caen, with Laridon's side falling to a 4-1 loss at the hands of the second-tier opponent but face a theoretically sterner challenge on Saturday having already exceeded their 2023-24 progress.
While this season's run has been aided by facing clubs in the sixth and eighth tiers in the previous rounds, compared to playing Longueau (then a tier-six side) and Caen, Calais aim to claim a first cup victory over a club from a higher division this time.
That outcome is easier said than done, given Strasbourg's significantly superior resources and the gap in quality between both sides.
The timing of this weekend's fixture may have been detrimental to the top-tier side a fortnight earlier, but Le Racing notching four points from six in Ligue 1 suggests a return to form for the Alsace-based club.
By avoiding defeat against Reims (0-0) and Le Havre (3-0), Le RCS snapped a four-match losing sequence, and Rosenior hopes to avoid another setback in Calais to continue his side's confidence rebuild.
Even though they were eliminated at this stage two seasons back on penalties to Angers before losing another shootout in last season's quarter-final against Lyon, Strasbourg hope to prevent Saturday's round of 64 tie going the distance, having also exited on spot kicks to Avranches in 2016-17 at the round of 16.
It will be interesting to see what version of the Ligue 1 side emerges in Calais this weekend: the side that lost four on the trot and failed to keep a clean sheet in seven consecutive Ligue 1 fixtures or the one to recently secure successive shutouts heading into their Coupe De France opener.
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Team News
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Robin Knockaert has been the home side's most decisive attacking threat in the cup, having netted in consecutive rounds, including the game-clincher to seal a 1-0 success over Le Touquet at the previous stage.
However, midfield man Luca Pelissier enters the round of 64 match in fine goalscoring form for Calais after finding the net in the defeat at Lens II and December 14's 2-1 victory over Olympique St Quentin.
Thomas Delaine, doubtful due to a knee issue, will be assessed, but Alaa Bellaarouch (groin), Caleb Wiley (shoulder) and Dion Sahi (Achilles) are not anticipated to feature for the Ligue 1 side.
Although Rosenior could make some alterations, Strasbourg may utilise a near full-strength team given their lack of fixtures until 2025 after Saturday's match against Calais: Karl-Johan Johnsson could replace Djordje Petrovic between the sticks, while Pape Diong and Sekou Mara may replace Andre Santos and Emanuel Emegha in midfield and centre-forward, respectively.
RC Calais possible starting lineup:
Hamelin; Lesage, Moges, Pamart, Varane; Pelissier, Lemaitre, Le Sech; Knockaert, Beauvue, Merlen
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Johnsson; Doue, Sarr, Doukoure, Moreira; Diarra, Diong; Bakwa, Nanasi, Sebas; Mara
We say: RC Calais 0-2 Strasbourg
It is hard to see anything beyond a Strasbourg win on Saturday. With Rosenior's men closing out the year with their visit to Calais, the Ligue 1 club's quality should suffice in sealing a routine win over the fifth-tier club.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
