Chateauroux arguably have the toughest third-round tie of all this season as they are tasked with keeping Ligue 1 champions PSG quiet on home soil, and their recent form against sides significantly weaker than the Parisian giants does not bode well heading into Friday’s clash.
Indeed, La Berri have won only two of their last nine competitive fixtures across all competitions, both of which coming in the Coupe de France against Stade Poitevin and Lege-Cap-Ferre respectively.
Manager Maxence Flachez – who spent time with the likes of Lyon and Sochaux during his playing days – sees his side languishing in 14th place in the third-tier standings, just one place and two points above the relegation zone.
Chateauroux have only ever played one season in Ligue 1 (1997–98) and they have also reached the Coupe de France final on just one occasion, losing to none other than PSG in 2003-04 which was their last meeting against the Parisian giants.
La Berri will be regarded as huge underdogs on Friday, but they will be hoping that PSG are still feeling the after-effects of losing their first Ligue 1 match of the season to high-flying Lens last Sunday. Indeed, Christophe Galtier’s men were beaten in the top flight for the first time since March when Lens recorded an impressive 3-1 home victory.
Without the presence of World Cup winner Lionel Messi and the suspended Neymar, Hugo Ekitike led the line with Kylian Mbappe and the former equalised for the visitors three minutes after
Przemyslaw Frankowski scored a fifth-minute opener. However, Lois Opendaand Alexis Claude-Maurice both got their names on the scoresheet to condemn PSG to a disappointing defeat.
PSG, who have seen their lead at the Ligue 1 summit cut to four points, now turn their attention to the Coupe de France, a competition that they have won in six of the last eight years. However, they failed to go all the way last season after they were eliminated in the fifth round by Nice on penalties.
Defensive frailties have crept into PSG’s performances of late, with Galtier’s side keeping only one clean sheet in their last seven matches across all tournaments.
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Chateauroux will be without midfielder Ferris N’Goma and forward Alioune Ndour – who have scored a team-high three goals each so far this season – due to suspension.Flachez may decide to switch to a back
five in an attempt to counteract the attacking threat of PSG, with centre-back trio Peter Ouaneh, Opa Sangante and Kouadio Ange Ahoussou all protecting goalkeeper Paul Delecroix.
Romain Basque and Malcolm Viltard – who both scored in last weekend’s defeat against Sedan – are set to retain their places in centre-midfield alongside Jonathan Mexique, while Florian Bianchini could be joined in attack by Natanael Ntolla.
