Quevilly vs Rennes
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
LYON  Lloris Reveillere, Lovren, Cris, Cissokho Gonalons Briand, Gourcuff, Kallstrom Lisandro, Gomis | US QUEVILLY Vardin, Vanoukia, Weis, Beaugrard Diarra, Jouan, Laup Cappelle, Valero, Colinet |
Lyon boss Remi Garde has been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday's Coupe de France Final against giant-killers US Quevilly. Brazilian international Michel Bastos and compatriot Ederson have bene left out of the squad entirely due to back and thigh problems respectively.
John Mensah is a long-term absence with Kim Kallstrom expected to move into the void left by Bastos' absence in a 4-1-3-2 formation. Yoann Gourcuff, who made his return from injury in last weekend's come-from-behind 3-2 victory against FC Lorient, is also in line for a long-awaited starting berth, although faces stiff competition from Clement Grenier.
US Quevilly enter their first Coupe de France final since 1927 with a virtually injury-free squad. Goalkeeper Issa Coulibaly is again expected to replace Yassine El-Kharroubi, with a virtually unchanged XI from the side which sensationally dumped out Marseille and Rennes in the quarter and semi-finals.
Julien Valero and Pierrick Cappelle, who are Quevilly's top scorers in the competition, are expected to lead the attack ahead of Karim Herouart and Jean-Christophe Ayina who should make the bench.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Olympique Lyonnais have won the Coupe de France four times, the most recent victory coming in 2008.
- Remi Garde's men beat GFCO Ajaccio 4-0 in the semi-finals, having overcome two other amateur sides as well as Bordeaux and PSG.
- Les Gones lost their only other encounter against Quevilly in 1968, going down 1-0 to the Normandy club.
- Victory on Saturday evening would ensure Lyon's first trophy in almost four years.
- US Quevilly have only appeared in the showpiece final once before, back in 1927, losing 3-0 to Marseille in front of a crowd of 23,000.
- Nevertheless, Regis Brouard's side are no strangers to the competition, having lost in the semi-finals in 2010 to eventual winners PSG.
- Quevilly's annual budget is roughly 80 times smaller than that of Lyon's.
- Quevilly's eight Coupe de France ties (they started four rounds before Lyon) have seen five go to extra-time, with two of those going all the way to penalties.
- The Normandy side can become the lowest-ranked side to win the trophy on Saturday. They are the third amateur side to reach the final, with second-divison sides Le Havre (1959) and Guignamp (2009) tasting victory.
Prediction
It would be amazing, one of the biggest upsets in European football history if unfancied Quevilly beat Lyon on Saturday evening, but sadly that dream is a little too far-fetched. Lyon are already wounded by losing at this stadium in the Coupe de la Ligue Final, and will want to banish those demons with an efficient performance. Big win for Remi Garde's men.
Editor's Prediction
Lyon 4-1 Quevilly Us 
