Le Havre can book their place in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France for the first time in over 60 years with a victory over Strasbourg on Wednesday at Stade de la Meinau.
Le Racing clinched a spot in the last 16 thanks to a comfortable 3-1 triumph over Clermont, while a late first-half strike versus Chateauroux enabled the club from Normandy to triumph 1-0.
Match preview
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In only two matches at the Coupe de France this season, we have seen a Strasbourg side full of creativity and quality, outscoring their two opponents by a 7-1 margin.
That is a sharp contrast from what Patrick Vieira has seen from his players in the French top flight, scoring the second-fewest goals among sides currently in the top half of the table (20), netting no more than two goals in a single domestic encounter all season.
Although they are not scoring many times in a single game domestically, the side from Alsace have been among the most consistent in the French top flight over the past couple of months, losing just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, with that lone defeat coming this past weekend versus the league leaders Paris Saint-Germain (2-1).
That defeat ended a four-match unbeaten run for them in all competitions at Stade de la Meinau as they conceded multiple goals in a home game for the first time since a 2-1 Ligue 1 defeat versus Nantes in October.
Strasbourg have lost their last two home matches played in this competition, failing to score on both occasions, with their previous Coupe de France triumph at Stade de la Meinau occurring in January 2018 (2-1 versus Lille), which was the last time they made it beyond the last 16 of this competition.
They have come back to earn a result in three of their previous four Ligue 1 matches when conceding the opening goal but have not won a Coupe de France game in that scenario since defeating Angouleme-Soyaux Charente 5-1 in January 2020, which was the last time they qualified for the round of 16 before this season.
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By the thinnest of margins, Le Havre are in the last 16 of this competition for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign, winning both of their Coupe de France affairs this season by a single goal.
On Wednesday, they will face a top-flight side at the Coupe de France for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign, when they defeated Bordeaux 1-0.
Luka Elsner's men have strung together their share of positive results lately, stretching their unbeaten run on Sunday to five matches in all competitions with a 1-1 come-from-behind draw versus Monaco.
Le Club Doyen have claimed at least a point in eight of their 11 top-flight fixtures away from home this season, conceding a goal or fewer in six of those encounters, while their victory over Chateauroux in the round of 32 was the first time they kept a clean sheet in a Coupe de France away game since that previously mentioned victory over Bordeaux.
Le Havre have yet to make it beyond the last 16 of this tournament since defeating Red Star 2-1 in March 1960, with Le Ciel et Bleu losing their previous five matches played at this stage of the competition.
They have yet to defeat Strasbourg at Stade de la Meinau this century, with their previous away triumph against them occurring in November 1999 (1-0 in Division 1).
Team News
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Strasbourg will be without Lebo Mothiba and Jeremy Sebas due to knee injuries, Ismael Doukoure has a sore ankle and Kevin Gameiro is dealing with a hamstring strain.
Former first-choice goalkeeper Matz Sels signed with Premier League side Nottingham Forrest before the end of the transfer window last week, while they added Andrey Santos on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the campaign.
Goals from Abakar Sylla, Habib Diarra and Dilane Bakwa helped them to a comfortable round of 32 triumph over Clermont in what was the second match between the sticks at this tournament for Alaa Bellaarouch, who started his first Ligue 1 fixture on Friday.
There were numerous new faces in the Le Havre starting 11 against Chateauroux, who did not begin their round of 64 Coupe de France clash with Caen (2-1) with Gautier Lloris, Oualid El Hajjam, Oussama Targhalline, Daler Kuzyayev, Yassine Kechta and Antoine Joujou maintaining their place in the opening lineup.
Mohamed Bayo may not be back in time for this outing after the Guinean national team were beaten 3-1 on Friday by the Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, despite the Lille loanee putting his side in front after 12 minutes.
Steve Ngoura scored in first-half stoppage time in their round of 32 clash, while Mathieu Gorgelin made two saves to collect his first clean sheet of this tournament.
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellaarouch; Senaya, Perrin, Sylla, Guilbert; Santos, Sissoko, Diarra; Bakwa, Sahi, Angelo
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Nego, Kinkoue, Lloris, El Hajjam; Targhalline; Grandsir, Kuzyayev, Kechta, Sabbi; Ngoura
We say: Strasbourg 1-1 Le Havre (Strasbourg advance on penalties)
These sides are separated by a just single point in Ligue 1, with Strasbourg holding a slight edge in the top flight this season.
We expect to see an even contest on Wednesday, but we are leaning towards the home side because of their consistent form lately and depth.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
