The final Coupe de France quarter-final of the year could be the most anticipated match as Lens head to the Groupama Stadium to face Lyon on Thursday as second and third in Ligue 1.

Lyon defeated Laval 2-0 in the Round of 16, while Les Saints-et-Ors visited Troyes in early February and won 4-2.

Match preview

It has become a familiar sight to see Lyon in action at this stage of the Coupe de France and beyond, with the team enjoying a comfortable win over Stade Lavallois last month.

Coach Paulo Fonseca’s side have conceded just one goal in three games in this year’s tournament, advancing to the last eight for the seventh time in the past eight tournaments.

They have won four of their last five appearances at this stage of the competition, beating Strasbourg on penalties the last time they were here in 2024.

Lyon have won their last nine home games in all competitions and have kept a clean sheet in their last three.

They have won eight consecutive Coupe de France home matches, with their last loss at the Groupama Stadium coming in the 2021 quarter-finals against Monaco (2-0).

Les Gones are unbeaten in two of their last three games against Reims, winning 1-0 in their opening Ligue 1 match in August.

Although their title aspirations have taken a hit over the past two weeks, Lens look like favorites to lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

Pierre Sarge scored 10 goals in three games to lead his side to the quarter-finals of this competition for the second time in the last eight competitions.

The former Lyon manager has lost only one of his last nine away games in all competitions, losing 3-1 against Marseille in late January.

At the same time, they have dropped points in their last two Ligue 1 games, leaving them four points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Reims have won six of their last seven Coupe de France away trips, with both of those games this season won by a combined 7-2 margin as visitors.

Les Saints et Ores have not reached the semi-finals of this competition since 2010, but have won their last two visits to the Groupama Stadium, including a 2-1 victory in Lyon’s Stade Gerland in the round of 16 of the 2014 Coupe de France (2-1 in extra time).

Lyon Coupe de France form:

Lyon form (all competitions):

Lens Coupe de France format:

Lens shape (all sports):

team news

Pavel Suruc and Afonso Moreira may be ruled out of Thursday’s game against Lyon due to hamstring problems, while Ruben Kluivert has a muscle strain and Malik Fofana is doubtful for the Reds due to ankle pain.

Ernesto Nuama will not be available for this match due to a cruciate ligament injury, but Nicolas Tagliafico has a calf problem and Orel Mangala could be available despite long-term injury problems.

In the last 16, Endrick scored the winning goal in the 10th minute before the 90th minute, and Maxime Aubois sealed the win with an own goal in stoppage time.

For Lens, Regis Gurtner and Samson Baidou are still struggling with hamstring problems, while Jonathan Gradit is suffering from a lower leg injury.

Meanwhile, Ruben Aguilar is doubtful with a calf strain, while fellow defender Kylian Antonio is also doubtful with a foot problem.

Abdalla Sima contributed to the victory by scoring twice against Troyes, while Andrija Bulatovic and captain Florian Sotka also found the back of the net.

Lyon’s expected starting lineup:

Death camp. Abner, Mattah, Niahath, Hatebour. Narty, Morton, and Tesman. Endrik, Yaremchuk, Karabak

Lensable starting lineup:

Riser; Ganiu, Serik, Udol. Abdulhamid, Bulatovic, Sangare, Searle. Sotka said. Edouard

We say: Lyon 0-0 Lens (Lens advances on penalty)

These are an incredibly calm, patient and defensively sound unit, and while there’s little to choose between, Lens believes their coach is a little hungry for a win over his former team.

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