Stade Briochin, the underdog of the Coupe de France, is set to experience a once-in-a-lifetime match against Paris Saint-Germain in the upcoming round.
For the small Breton club, this is a dream draw, as they prepare to take on “the biggest club in France,” according to their coach Guillaume Allanou. “We’re going to face the biggest club in France, so we won’t be playing in our little stadium.”
This historic matchup presents a unique opportunity for Stade Briochin’s players, who are determined to enjoy the moment while giving their absolute best on the pitch.
“Our Final Before the Final”
Club captain James Le Marer expressed both excitement and admiration ahead of this clash against the Parisian giants: “It’s an incredible draw, I’m super happy. We started to believe in a deep run and dream of a final—this will surely be our final before the final. I’d say we have a 1% chance of winning, but we’ll give it everything.”
Despite the challenge ahead, he remains highly motivated at the prospect of facing some of the world’s best players: “I played against (Ousmane) Dembélé when he was in Rennes’ reserve team. I really admire (Gonçalo) Ramos—one of the best number 9s in the world—and (Achraf) Hakimi, who is outstanding at right-back.”
A Match That Will Unite a Whole Region
Beyond the players, this event is a source of pride for the entire community. Le Marer even admitted that some of his family and friends, who are PSG supporters, might find it difficult to pick a side: “My brother-in-law is a huge PSG fan—he must be going crazy. A lot of my friends support them, so I wonder who they’ll be rooting for.”
Facing the powerhouse that is PSG, modest Stade Briochin has nothing to lose and will look to seize this rare opportunity to make history. The matchup promises to be unforgettable for the players and fans alike.
