RC Lens face OGC Nice tonight at Stade de France in the Coupe de France final. The Artois side has never won France’s oldest club competition, and Pierre Sage’s men will look to get that monkey off their back. After finishing second behind PSG to confirm their return in the Champions League, Lens could conclude their brilliant campaign with silverware.
They are certainly favourites considering OGC Nice are in disarray with Les Aiglons set to compete in the Ligue 1 relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne next week. For tonight’s showpiece, Lens head coach Pierre Sage will be able to rely on a near-full strength squad. Samson Baidoo will miss out after picking an injury against Lyon. The Austrian international centre-back is set to be replaced by 18-year-old Kyllian Antonio, unless Nidal Celik gets the nod.
Sage will field his trusted double pivot of Mamadou Sangaré and Adrien Thomasson, the latter will play hins final game with Lens before joining Rennes as a free agent. Up front, France international winger Florian Thauvin will start alongside Wesley Saïd and former Crystal Palace centre-forward Odsonne Edouard.
Lens likely line-up v Nice
Robin Risser; Malang Sarr, Ismaelo Ganiou, Kyllian Antonio; Matthieu Udol, Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Saud Abdulhamid; Wesley Said, Odsonne Édouard, Florian Thauvin. (L’Éq)
Robin Risser; Malang Sarr, Samson Baidoo, Ismaelo Ganiou; Matthieu Udol, Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Ruben Aguilar; Wesley Said, Odsonne Édouard, Florian Thauvin. (L’Éq)
They are certain to go into the final
