Coupe de France: What to watch in the quarterfinals
Ahead of the Coupe de France quarterfinals this week, we ask the big question about the eight teams still involved in the competition.
More magic from enciso?
RC Strasbourg have just come through a veritable gauntlet in Ligue 1 McDonald's, facing five of the league's top six sides in their last six matches. A late draw against Marseille will have stung, but coming through that run with eight points underscores that the Alsatians have scarcely missed a step in bringing Gary O'Neil aboard. The Englishman also impressed in this competition, handily beating Monaco in the Round of 16 thanks to a double from Julio Enciso. The Paraguay international's form has been uneven in the league, but with five goals in three matches in the Coupe, he's been vital to Racing's progress, and will need to be at his best against a Reims side with the best defense in France's second division.
Julio Enciso this season 🔎💎
🇵🇾 8 goals in 20 matches
🇵🇾 7 G/A in 6 matches in 2026
🇵🇾 Two braces this season
🇵🇾 5 goals in 3 Coupe de France matches
(📸 @RCSA_English) pic.twitter.com/5WqHRJDors— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 5, 2026
Can Dieng's hot streak continue?
Another player who has been in form in the Coupe and has built on that in Ligue 1 McDonald's is FC Lorient's Bamba Dieng. The Senegal international has struggled with injury since arriving in Brittany, but has hit a purple patch like few in the world of late. Since netting a hat trick in the Round of 64 in mid-December, he's scored eleven times in ten appearances, including a brace against Auxerre on Sunday. After being rested in the Round of 16 against Paris FC, he should be back in the eleven here as Les Merlus look to lift France's oldest trophy for the first time since 2002.
OM wary of comedown
Ahead of their meeting in Ligue 1 McDonald's this upcoming weekend, Marseille and Toulouse will clash at the Vélodrôme in the Coupe de France. Having been knocked out the Champions League and being well off the pace in Ligue 1 McDonald's, Marseille should theoretically have all of their focus on this competition, but the onus will be on them after what was surely a draining win over Lyon yesterday. With Amine Gouiri still a doubt, is it too tall of an order to ask Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to roll back the years once more in leading the line?
Marseille’s hero: Pierre. Emerick. Aubameyang. 🇬🇦 pic.twitter.com/btMzfvPGZC
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 1, 2026
Priorities for Lyon and lens?
Thursday's match -- unlike Marseille-Toulouse -- sees two sides tangle who look very different from when they first met this season, on Matchday One. That day, Lyon scraped a 1-0 win with a goal scored by Georges Mikautadze, and Florian Thauvin, who has been one of Lens' best players this season, only came off the bench. Fast forward some seven months and Lens are still in with a shout for the title, the surprise package of the season, while Lyon, despite a raft of departures, aren't much worse off, ably balancing Europe and Ligue 1. The question then becomes is this third competition worth it for Lyon, and can Lens themselves afford the distraction, especially on the back of dropping points against Monaco and Strasbourg of late. The smart money is on both sides fielding strong teams, knowing that they're only three victories away from a major honor -- this tie is shaping up to be the pick of the round.
