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.
This will be the third meeting between the sides this season, with both encounters coming in Ligue 1, where each club claimed victory on their respective trips.
Match preview
© Imago
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.
© Iconsport
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.
Team News
© Imago
The absence of Esteban Lepaul will be a significant blow for Angers, as the forward, who has netted four times in the competition, remains sidelined with a groin injury until mid-March.
Dieng made an impact in a 13-minute cameo last time out after recovering from injury, and the Senegalese could now lead the line in Lepaul's absence.
Angers also have Emmanuel Biumla, Jim Allevinah, Carlens Arcus and Cedric Hountondji among those unavailable.
Reims will once again be without Mohammed Daramy and Reda Khadra, who are both nursing knee injuries, while Yaya Fofana (ankle), Jordan Siebatcheu (hamstring) and Abdoul Kone (thigh) remain sidelined.
Oumar Diakite and Keito Nakamura are pushing for a place in the starting XI, with both still searching for their first goal in the tournament.
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
We say: Angers 0-1 Reims
This fixture has all the makings of a tightly contested battle, though with Reims' success against Angers in the competition and the recent pattern in this matchup, they might just have the edge to find a way through.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
