Saumur OL VS Toulouse, an excellent opportunity for away

Match Time：4/8/2021 00:45 Thursday  (GMT+8)

French Cup --  Saumur OL   VS   Toulouse

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Saumur take on Toulouse in the last 16 of the Coupe de France on Wednesday.

 

The sides are two of nine clubs currently competing outside of Ligue 1 to have made it as far as this season's last 16.

 

Match preview

Saumur were third in the Pays de la Loire region of the Championnat National 3 level prior to this season being declared null and void due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

As such, their only competitive matches so far this calendar year have been the four cup games they have won to reach this stage, with the 4-1 win over local rivals Sable in February a particular highlight.

 

Managed by Julien Sourice, Saumur's most established first-team player is arguably 24-year-old midfielder Mohamed Youla, who has played six times for the Guinea national team.

 

They will head into the match against Toulouse as major underdogs, but the chance of competing in a national cup quarter-final will seriously motivate them all the same.

 

Indeed, prior to being relegated last season, Toulouse had spent 20 consecutive seasons as a Ligue 1 club, so they will be heavily odds-on favourites to beat their amateur opponents on Wednesday.

 

Patrice Garande, who was brought into the club as manager by president Damien Comolli last summer, has guided them into second place in Ligue 2 with seven matches of the season remaining, so they appear to have an excellent chance of bouncing back to the level they consider themselves to belong at.

 

They should head to Saumur full of confidence, too, after an excellent 4-1 win against eighth-placed Nancy on Saturday, with Janis Antiste, Ruben Gabrielsen and Amine Adli all on the scoresheet for the hosts after Saliou Ciss's own goal had given them a helping hand.

 

Having beaten Niort, Bordeaux and Aubagne to reach this stage of the Coupe de France, Garande will be determined not to waste a golden opportunity to reach the last eight of the competition.

 

 

Saumur Coupe de France form:WWWW

Toulouse Coupe de France form:WWW

Toulouse form (all competitions):WLWWLW

 

Team News

Sourice will be concerned that his side have not played a competitive match for over a month, but is likely to reward the players who have unexpectedly helped get Saumur this far into the competition.

 

Wail Bouhoutt scored a brace against Montagnarde in the last round, so is likely to start in attack once again, with the forward clearly deadly from the penalty spot.

 

Toulouse, meanwhile, could travel without Wesley Said due to injury.

 

English striker Rhys Healey, who scored 11 league goals for MK Dons last season, is Toulouse's top goalscorer this season and should get the nod alongside Antiste in attack.

 

Saumur possible starting lineup:

Dauvergne; Touzet, Grippon, Pillier; Ngoua, Viaud, Billeaux, Bacha; Blanchard, Bokangu, Bouhoutt

 

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Sanna, Amian, Dewaest, Gabrielsen, Machado; Adli, Kone, Dejaegere; Healey, Antiste

 

Saumur 0-2 Toulouse