Either Rouen or Valenciennes will make the semi-finals of the Coupe de France for the first time in decades when they square off on Wednesday at Stade Robert Diochon in Normandy.
Les Diables Rouges upset Monaco in the last 16, advancing from that encounter on penalties (6-5), while Les Atheniens narrowly defeated Saint-Priest 2-1.
Match preview
It has been a magical run for Rouen at the Coupe de France this season, advancing into the quarter-finals for the first time this century.
Their road to this stage of the tournament has been filled with drama and unexpected results, with the side from Normandy ousting a pair of Ligue 1 opponents on penalties in Toulouse and Monaco.
Maxime D'Ornano's men have successfully executed a strong build-up play from the back, often getting their goalkeeper involved in the play.
That risky approach has enabled them to create several numerical advantages in the attack with wide overloads, as Rouen have netted 17 goals in seven matches in this tournament.
While those tactics have been successful in this competition, it has not generated many positive results for them domestically of late, with Les Diables Rouges winning just one of their last five encounters in the Championnat Nacional (tier three), putting them nine points off a promotional place into Ligue 2.
It has been over 80 years since this side made it into the semi-finals of this tournament, losing at that stage in April 1940 versus RC Paris (8-4) while being defeated in their last five Coupe de France quarter-final appearances.
The 2023-24 domestic campaign has been miserable for Valenciennes, currently bottom of the Ligue 2 table and 15 points below the relegation line.
One of their few positives this season has been their performances at the Coupe de France, making the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
Ahmed Kantari's men have lost five successive away matches domestically but have been better in this competition, winning their four games played outside Valenciennes.
Les Atheniens have only lost one of their last nine Coupe de France affairs away from home since the 2020-21 campaign, suffering a 3-1 defeat versus Paris FC in the round of 64 last year.
Valenciennes have only scored 17 goals domestically this season, the lowest among Ligue 2 sides, but have netted multiple times in four of their five fixtures at this tournament.
Since making the Coupe de France semi-finals during the 1969-70 season, Valenciennes have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of this competition five times, most recently against Rennes in 2011-12 (3-1).
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Team News
Ruffice Amede Kabongo ruptured his Achilles tendon in January and will not be available for Rouen, while Adon Gomis may also be sidelined due to a cruciate ligament tear.
Clement Bassin scored the equaliser for them versus Monaco, his third of the tournament, setting the stage for Leonard Aggoune to be the hero, with the Rouen keeper stopping Folarin Balogun and Maghnes Akliouche from the spot to send his side into the quarter-finals.
There were five Valenciennes players who began their round of 32 victory over Paris FC (2-1) that maintained their place in the starting 11 versus Saint-Priest, Joffrey Cuffaut, Souleymane Basse, Aymen Boutoutaou, Mathias Oyewusi and Andrew Jung.
Jung and Sirine Doucoure found the back of the net in the round of 16, while Jean Louchet stopped three of the four shots that he faced to preserve the victory.
Rouen possible starting lineup:
Aggoune; Bouzamoucha, Sanson, Bassin; Ouadah, Benzia, A. Allee, Mion; Z. Allee, Loppy; Benkaid
Valenciennes possible starting lineup:
Louchet; Vialaneix, Moore, Cuffaut, Basse; Knockaert, Banse, Foe Ondoa, Hamache; Doucoure, Jung
We say: Rouen 1-0 Valenciennes
Rouen have gone toe-to-toe with two Ligue 1 sides at this tournament, holding their own on both occasions and finding a way to win.
Valenciennes' form domestically and the fact they have not faced any formidable opponents at this tournament has us leaning towards the home team pulling off another upset.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
