Preview: Rouen vs. Lille - prediction, team news, lineups

Posted Friday, December 20, 2024 by sportsmole.co.uk

Lille will look to avoid a potential cup shock when they travel to third-tier Rouen in the round of 64 of the Coupe de France on Friday night.

Bruno Genesio's side are currently 16 games unbeaten in all competitions, but face a team that have been rejuvenated since the arrival of manager Regis Brouard.

This fixture has the potential to become one of the biggest stories of the weekend if Lille slip up, considering the run they are on currently.

A 1-1 draw at Marseille last weekend extended their phenomenal unbeaten streak to 16 matches - a run that has seen them beat Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and hold Juve, Monaco and OM to draws.

Should a team from the third tier end that run, which dates back to early September, it would be tough to eclipse that, no matter what else happens elsewhere in the round of 64.

Lille made little fuss with their round of 64 outing last season though, obliterating Martinique-based club Golden Lion 12-0 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

They were unable to get much further though, losing in the last 16 to Lyon, extending their rather disappointing run in this competition.

Since winning the Coupe in 2011, Lille's best performance is two quarter-final appearances, with some embarrassing defeats to lower-league opponents Trelissac and Epinal sprinkled in.

Rouen are a potentially tricky opponent too, despite the form Genesio's men have shown in recent months, and those who are superstitious will note that the National side have knocked Lille out of the cup twice before, in 1953-54 and 1992-93.

Many may also make note of the fact that the most notable previous meeting between the two came in the quarter-final in 1983, and Lille were victorious that day.

That was the stage that Rouen reached last season though, stunning Ligue 1 Toulouse and Monaco on their way to an exit on penalties against Valenciennes.

The 1925 finalists have never been as close to replicating that as they were last season, and they have been handed one of the toughest draws possible with all French clubs now entering.

A 3-0 win over amateur outfit Ginglin Cesson got them to this round, but despite the huge increase in quality of their next opponents, there are plenty of reasons for optimism.

Not just the fact they beat two top-flight opponents last season, since Brouard's appointment in November, Rouen have won all four games, not conceding now in 337 minutes, moving them comfortably away from the relegation zone in the third tier.

The new manager made himself very popular with a win over local rivals Quevilly Rouen in their last outing too, running out 2-0 victors in what is their last game in the league until mid-January.

Rouen will have been delighted to have had top scorer Hicham Benkaid back from a brief absence in their last game, considering he has six league goals to his name this season, as well as another in the previous round.

On the injury front, there are absences all over the pitch, with central defender Adon Gomis, midfielder Mohamed Ouadah and wide man Abdeljalil Sahloune all currently sidelined for the hosts.

Lille will be able to call upon Benjamin Andre, with yellow card suspensions not carrying over into cup competitions, but Angel Gomes remains out with a calf problem.

Samuel Umtiti is closing in on a return from a knee injury, but Tiago Santos's ACL tear has most likely ended his season.

With no league game until January 4, Genesio may see no reason to rotate too heavily here, but Jonathan David and Edon Zhegrova will most probably sit this one out, especially the Kosovan winger, who has been playing with a minor issue for the past month or so.

Rouen possible starting lineup:
Maraval; Mbock, Goprou, Sanson, Bassin, Mion; Benzia, Allee, Benkaid; Diarra, Ferrah

Lille possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Mandi, Toure, Diakite, Bakker; Andre, Andre Gomes, Cabella; Fernandez-Pardo, Bayo, Bouaddi

We say: Rouen 0-2 Lille
Even though there are two divisions between the clubs, this is unlikely to be plain sailing for Lille, but they should have more than enough to extend their unbeaten run to 17 matches.

Rouen stunned both Toulouse and Monaco on their way to the quarter-finals last season, but even though they have won four in a row under their new manager, this is an uphill task for them, against a club that have been impressive in the Champions League.