Coupe de France: Panichelli, Enciso save Strasbourg blushes to advance
RC Strasbourg were pushed hard by Stade de Reims but eventually broke through with a pair of penalties, advancing to the Coupe de France semifinals after a 2-1 home win. Catch up on all the action from La Meinau with our recap.
Reims a tough ask
Of the eight teams to have reached the Coupe de France semifinals, seven are from Ligue 1 McDonald's, but even if Strasbourg had drawn the lone exception, Ligue 2 BKT side Stade de Reims, they would surely have their work cut out for them. Unbeaten since mid-January, the Champagne side boasted an experienced squad, and the best defence in France's second division. Even playing at home, Gary O'Neil's team would have their hands full, and his strong eleven reflected that, with only January signing Gessime Yassine not a regular starter from the off.
Racing were off to a strong start, and Sebastien Nanasi would force a fine save from Alexandre Olliero (12') before the Reims 'keeper then kept out a half volley by Joaquín Panichelli (16') and an effort from Yassine (19') in succession. The Alsatians continued to push for an opening goal, and came closer still when Guéla Doué hit the post just past the half hour. Racing were then denied by VAR, which found that Yassine had dove, ruling out a penalty (35'), and the match reached halftime scoreless.
🔵 6 goals in 4 CDF matches
🔵 12 G/A this season
JULIO ENCISO. 🇵🇾💎 pic.twitter.com/a5XNDs5DXo— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 3, 2026
Panichelli and Enciso are clinical from the spot
Into the second half, it was Doué who would again come close to breaking the deadlock, with a header from the Côte D'Ivoire international hitting the post (53'). From there, the pace of the match dropped somewhat, with Reims holding Racing at bay, and even forcing a fine save from Mike Penders, the young Belgian making a fine diving stop to keep out Hiroki Sekine (67'). With the match ticking towards full time, though, Racing reasserted themselves, and a wickedly dipping free kick from substitute Julio Enciso forced another fine save from Olliero (80').
Just a minute later, Reims had a handball from the corner, and Joaquín Panichelli stepped up to convert, netting for the 17th time this season in all competitions (83'). Just three minutes, David Datro Fofana was brought down in the area, and it was then the turn of Enciso to take, which the Paraguay international did with aplomb, netting for the sixth time in four Coupe de France matches. Reims would pull a goal back in added time, but the match would finish 2-1 to the hosts, assuring their place in the semifinals for the first time since 2001. Next up for RC Strasbourg will be a match against Auxerre in Ligue 1 McDonald's before returning to European action in the Conference League. As for their Coupe de France campaign, the semifinal draw on Thursday will determine their next opponent, with that match to be played in early April.
