Looking to cause a major upset and reach the quarter-finals of the competition, Bourgoin-Jallieu will host Reims at Stade Pierre Rajon in the Coupe de France on Thursday night.
The hosts squeezed past top-tier opponents to reach this stage in January, whilst Les Rouges et Blancs are on a mission to avoid a sobering defeat against fifth-tier foes.
Match preview
© Imago
The lowest-ranked side left in the 2024-25 edition of Coupe de France, Bourgoin-Jallieu are currently plying their humble trade in the fifth tier of the French football pyramid, following a 13th-placed finish and subsequent relegation from the fourth tier during a wretched last campaign.
However, Thursday's hosts have enjoyed plenty more joys during the opening six months of this month, cherishing a historic club run which has allowed them to opportunity to battle with top-tier contenders Reims for a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition this week.
There cannot be an argument that Bourgoin-Jallieu have avoided difficult ties to get to his point, with the fifth-tier outfit having to fight off the efforts of French giants Lyon in the round of 32 in order to advance, with Nemanja Matic and Georges Mikautadze scoring for the Ligue 1 side.
Despite their humble history, the hosts have some notable former players who are now ripping it up across Europe, including Cameroon international Bryan Mbuemo, with the attacker leading the goalscoring charts for Brentford in the Premier League this season.
Winless across their last nine Ligue 1 contests, Thursday's visitors Reims will be searching for a pick-me-up result as they enter the home of the fifth-tier side this week, with the top-flight outfit facing an unlikely relegation battle during the second half of the season.
Les Rouges et Blancs are currently sitting in 13th spot in the Ligue 1 standings with just 22 points from 20 matches, four points behind Saint-Etienne who are lying inside the lowest of the relegation spots at this current moment.
Reims' only success in normal time since early October arrived in a previous round of this term's Coupe de France just before Christmas, when Gabriel Moscardo opened the scoring for his side as they won 3-1 at Association Still Mutzig.
With a scrap for survival on the cards, Les Rouges et Blancs will be searching for a morale-boosting victory on Thursday night, when Reims top goalscorer Keito Nakamura will be aiming to make the difference, with the 24-year-old netting eight times in Ligue 1 this campaign.
Team News
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After bagging a brilliant brace during the 2-2 draw with Lyon in the last round, Mehdi Moujetzky should retain his spot in the Bourgoin-Jallieu XI on Thursday night.
A stalwart of the lower leagues in France, Jimmy Nirlo will provide experience as captain at centre-back, with the 36-year-old a commanding presence for his side.
Reims remain without the services of attacker Reda Khadra, who is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the term due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Les Rouges et Blancs are further reduced in areas of creativity because of Teddy Teuma's calf injury, with the Malta international targeting a late February return.
There are also issues for the visitors to contend with in defence in the form of Abdoul Kone, who picked up a slight injury at the end of January.
Bourgoin-Jallieu possible starting lineup:
Jay; Mbae, Nirlo, W Mendy; J Mendy, Zaytouni, Moumen, Imbert, Moujetzky; Kohser, Bozkurt
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Buta, Sangui, Kipre, Akieme; Edoa, Patrick, Ito, Munetsi, Nakamura; Salama
We say: Bourgoin-Jallieu 0-3 Reims
Despite enjoying a marvellous run up until this point, we are expecting Bourgoin-Jallieu to be brought back down to reality on Thursday night.
Amid a poor run of Ligue 1 form, Reims will be keen to field a strong team and smash a few goals past their fifth-tier opponents in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
