Coupe de France: Nice face Lens in final
It will be all eyes on the Stade de France tomorrow night as RC Lens take on OGC Nice. Join us as we run the rule over the two Ligue 1 McDonald's sides ahead of the Coupe de France final.
Lens with a cutting edge
Despite having been pipped to the Ligue 1 McDonald's title by Paris Saint-Germain, there's no doubting the strength of Pierre Sage's Sang et Or. A mix of veteran talent like Florian Thauvin and Adrien Thomasson as well as youngsters making their first big impression in the top flight (Robin Risser, Ismaëlo Ganiou), their dynamic front-foot style has allowed them to go toe-to toe with all manner of opponents all season long. Having lost out on the league title, there's thus little doubt that they'll want to end their historic season with a trophy (and their first-ever Coupe de France), and their impressive 4-0 win (despite having rotated) over a Lyon side hoping to seal their Champions League status belies their continued motivation.
While defensive absences (Jonathan Gradit and Samson Baidoo are unavailable, while Kyllian Antonio remains a doubt) are less than ideal, the team's composure of the course of the season and rich array of attacking options make them the clear favorite, with the winter arrival of Allan Saint-Maximin having boosted Sage's arsenal. Despite their superiority on paper, midfielder and captain Adrien Thomasson underscored the historic importance of the final pre-match saying, "Winning would be a fitting reward for the magnificent season we are currently having. It would bind us together forever, for winning the first Coupe de France in the club's history would be truly exceptional. We must focus on what we can control—namely, the coach's game plan—and enjoy ourselves, for we are incredibly lucky to be here."
𝑉𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑒 🔜#FiersDEtreLensois #RCLOGCN pic.twitter.com/T6jibypnkb
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) May 21, 2026
A distracted nice?
As impressive as Lens' win at Lyon was on the final day, Nice's result was as moribund. A scoreless home draw against bottom side FC Metz, who were already relegated, was an ignominious result, and once which saw fans at the Allianz Riviera storm the pitch post-match. As bad as that result was in isolation, it also meant that Les Aiglons are saddled with playing in the promotion/relegation playoff next week against a very dangerous Saint-Étienne side. Thus, for as much as the Côte d'Azur side might have hoped to enjoy their time at the Stade de France for the occasion that it is, the very real threat of relegation remains an unwelcome distraction.
However, despite their flaws, Nice are a dangerous side with their hammer-and-tongs approach on the counter, with Elye Wahi (seven goals in 17 matches) giving them a winter arrival to match that of Saint-Maximin, and one who will no doubt be eager to match wits with his former side. Even with the threat of relegation looming, though, Dante (who is expected to start ahead of Juma Bah) was clear on his side's priorities.
"After (this match), we can focus on fixing everything we’ve done up to this point. We wake up telling ourselves that playing in a final is a magnificent thing. How many great players never had the chance to play in one? We’re going to approach it with immense joy and happiness, because it’s a tremendous privilege to be here. Personally, I believe in staying focused—every single day, for every single match. It’s up to me and the other players to give it absolutely everything we’ve got to pull this club out of this situation."
Predicted lineups:
RC Lens (3-4-3): Risser; Celik (or Antonio), Ganiou, Sarr; Abdulhamid (or Aguilar), Sangaré, Thomasson, Udol; Thauvin, Édouard, Saïd
OGC Nice (3-4-3): Dupé; Mendy, Dante, Oppong (or Bah); Clauss, Boudaoui, Sanson, Bard; Cho, Wahi, Diop
