OGC Nice and Paris Saint-Germain are set to meet for the third time in the Coupe de France. Le Gym has gone on to reach the final after winning on both previous occasions: the Round of 32 in 1978, and the Last 16 in 2022. Part 3 of the trilogy comes in the 2023/24 quarter-finals…

1978: 210 MINUTES of SUSPENSE

There were already two acts in the duo’s first Coupe duel. Goals from Nenad Bjekovic (51’) and Daniel Sanchez (56’) gave Le Gym a healthy cushion in the first leg at the Stade du Ray, but Jean-Pierre Adams – a former Nice player – struck for the visitors in the closing stages to give them hope (84’). The return at the Parc des Princes saw PSG leading 2-0 with 88 minutes gone only for a late Nice goal – from Jean-Pierre Ascery – to force extra-time. A Sanchez double helped Nice through as a gripping second leg ended 3-3. Nice then defeated Metz, Nantes and Monaco before falling to Nancy in the final (0-1).

2022: BUŁKA & LE GYM SEE OFF PSG

The duo’s second cup encounter came on 31 January 2022 at the Parc des Princes. Just the one leg this time, and Christophe Galtier’s Aiglons were up against a side that had reached seven successive finals, winning six. Just as in their league meeting earlier in the campaign, the game ended 0-0, so it went straight to penalties. Former Parisian Marcin Bułka made two saves while Dante chipped in a panenka to send Nice through 6-5 on penalties. Marseille were then beaten in the quarters (4-1) and amateurs Versailles defeated in the semi-final (2-0) before the disappointment of a 1-0 loss to Nantes in the final at the Stade de France.

 

 

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Avec Michel Oreggia