Stade Briochin welcome PSG in a David vs Goliath clash in the Coupe de France quarter-final on Wednesday night.
In a David vs Goliath Coupe de France quarter-final, fourth-tier Stade Briochin will attempt to pull off one of the biggest shocks in French football history when they welcome PSG to Stade Fred-Aubert on Wednesday.
While Briochin have already stunned Ligue 1 sides Le Havre and Nice, they now face an almost impossible task against the reigning champions, who are in scintillating form both domestically and in Europe.
Paris Saint-Germain head into this quarter-final as overwhelming favourites, having been in sensational form this season. The Parisians are unbeaten in Ligue 1 after 23 matches, boasting 18 wins and five draws, with a 13-point lead at the top of the table.
Their latest outing saw them edge Lyon 3-2 on Sunday, keeping their unbeaten streak intact. Additionally, Luis Enrique’s side demonstrated their European dominance last week, dismantling Brest 7-0 to complete a 10-0 aggregate win in the Champions League round of 16.
PSG’s Coupe de France campaign has been relatively smooth, barring a close call against Lens in the round of 64, where they needed penalties to advance. Since then, they have cruised past Espaly (4-2) and Le Mans (2-0) to book their place in the quarter-finals.
With an eight-match winning streak in all competitions, PSG are expected to rotate their squad while still fielding a strong team capable of overpowering their fourth-tier opponents.
Despite their underdog status, Stade Briochin have already captured national attention with back-to-back Coupe de France upsets. They eliminated Ligue 1’s Le Havre with a 1-0 victory in the round of 64, before shocking Nice with a 2-1 win in the last 16.
Briochin’s journey began with a 3-0 win over Paimpol, followed by a penalty shootout triumph over Saint-Malo. Their giant-killing exploits against Le Havre and Nice have been the highlight of their campaign, making this their best Coupe de France run since 1966, when they reached the round of 16.
While they suffered two consecutive losses following their win over Nice, Guillaume Allanou’s men found their rhythm again last Friday, thrashing Granville 6-2, just in time for this historic clash.
Now, they face their biggest challenge yet, as they attempt to produce what would be one of the greatest shocks in French football history by eliminating PSG from the Coupe de France. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Stade Briochin
Stade Briochin head into this historic Coupe de France quarter-final with no major injury or suspension concerns, allowing Guillaume Allanou to field his strongest possible lineup against Paris Saint-Germain.
Briochin’s defensive trio of Benjamin Angoua, Christophe Kerbrat, and Hugo Boudin will have the daunting task of containing PSG’s high-powered attack, which has been in unstoppable form this season. Hugo Boudin, who was the hero against Nice, scoring both goals in their 2-1 shock win, will aim to produce another magical performance, though this will be a completely different level of opposition.
In attack, Christian Konan and Stan Janno, both of whom have scored in previous rounds of the competition, are expected to lead the line, as Briochin look to take advantage of any rare attacking opportunities that come their way.
The home side are expected to set up defensively in a 5-3-2 formation, prioritising compactness at the back while hoping to capitalize on counter-attacks and set-pieces. In goal, Franck L’Hostis will be between the posts, tasked with organising his defence and making crucial saves to keep Briochin in the game.
The five-man defensive unit will feature James Le Marer at right wing-back, with Benjamin Angoua, Christophe Kerbrat, and Hugo Boudin forming the central trio. Madigoundo Diakite will play as the left wing-back, offering defensive support while attempting to contribute on the break.
In midfield, Aimeric Gomis-Maillard, Leo Yobe, and Artur Zakharyan will operate as the engine room, aiming to disrupt PSG’s possession play while trying to release the forwards on quick transitions.
Up front, Stan Janno and Christian Konan will spearhead the attack. Their movement and ability to press PSG’s backline will be key if Stade Briochin hope to create any goalscoring opportunities in what will be the biggest match in their club’s history.
Probable Lineup (5-3-2): L’Hostis; Le Marer, Angoua, Kerbrat, Boudin, Diakite; Gomis-Maillard, Yobe, Zakharyan; Janno, Konan
PSG
Luis Enrique is expected to make several rotations to his squad for this Coupe de France quarter-final, giving opportunities to fringe players while keeping his regular starters fresh for upcoming fixtures.
PSG will remain without Warren Zaire-Emery and Ibrahim Mbaye, who are both sidelined due to injury. The young midfielder and defender are expected to return by the end of the month, meaning they will miss this clash against Stade Briochin.
With the fixture congestion piling up, Enrique is likely to rotate his squad, with Goncalo Ramos, Matvey Safonov, and Lee Kang-in all in contention to start. This will give PSG’s key players a rest while ensuring they have more than enough firepower to overcome their fourth-tier opponents.
Paris Saint-Germain are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, which provides attacking fluidity while maintaining midfield control. Even with rotations, the squad possesses immense quality, making PSG the overwhelming favourite.
Matvey Safonov will likely start in goal, replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma, giving the Russian goalkeeper valuable game time. The backline will feature Yoram Zague at right-back, with Lucas Beraldo and Willian Pacho forming the central defensive pairing. Lucas Hernandez is expected to operate at left-back, offering both defensive security and attacking support.
In midfield, Senny Mayulu could start in a deeper role, providing defensive cover, while Fabian Ruiz takes on a more box-to-box role. Lee Kang-in will complete the trio, offering creativity and attacking movement.
The front three will see Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starting on the right flank, bringing trickery and goalscoring ability. Goncalo Ramos is expected to lead the line as the central striker, while Desire Doue will feature on the left wing, using his pace to stretch the Briochin defence.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Zague, Beraldo, Pacho, Hernandez; Mayulu, Ruiz, Lee; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Doue
Key Stats
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Paris Saint-Germain are the most successful team in Coupe de France history, having won the trophy 14 times. They are also the defending champions and have reached the semi-finals in eight of the last ten editions.
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Stade Briochin have reached the Coupe de France quarter-finals for the first time since 1966. Their biggest upset so far came against Nice in the last 16, when they won 2-1 to eliminate the Ligue 1 side.
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The Parisians have been ruthless in attack, scoring at least two goals in 13 of their last 15 games across all competitions. In the Coupe de France alone, they have netted 13 goals in three rounds, averaging over four goals per match.
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Despite being heavy underdogs, Stade Briochin have won four of their last five home matches in all competitions. However, they have never faced a team of PSG’s calibre and will need to produce a miracle performance to stand a chance.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
As PSG rotate their squad for this Coupe de France quarter-final, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to be the main attacking threat for the Parisians. The Georgian winger, known for his dribbling skills, creativity, and goalscoring ability, will be a nightmare for Stade Briochin’s defence.
Since his arrival at Paris Saint-Germain, Kvaratskhelia has been a game-changer on the left flank, providing pace and trickery in one-on-one situations. Against a fourth-tier defence, he will have plenty of opportunities to exploit space, create chances, and add to his goal tally.
His ability to cut inside and shoot from distance, as well as his link-up play with Goncalo Ramos and Desire Doue, will be key in breaking down a deep-lying Briochin defence. With Luis Enrique’s squad expected to dominate possession, Kvaratskhelia will be given the freedom to express himself and showcase his attacking brilliance.
Expect Kvaratskhelia to be the standout performer, potentially racking up goals or assists, as PSG look to cruise into the Coupe de France semi-finals.
Prediction
Stade Briochin 0-5 PSG
Expect PSG to comfortably book their place in the semi-finals, continuing their quest for another Coupe de France title. While Stade Briochin have already achieved incredible cup feats, PSG’s squad depth, superior quality, and winning mentality make an upset highly unlikely. Even if Luis Enrique rotates his squad, the Parisians have the firepower to dominate from start to finish.
