European Domestic Cup Roundup Part 1 – France & Spain – Rodez Stun PSG, Barca Through To Final

6 Mar, 2009 Jonathan F Europe, France, Latest

Rodez celebrate

The domestic cup competitions burst back into life across Europe again this week, with games taking place around the continent. As the season heads towards crunch time, the time when titles are decided and heroes made, the domestic cups in Europe are also advancing to their latter stages. As we did back in January, let’s take a look at how this year’s tournaments are panning out:

In France, the biggest shock of this season’s Coupe de France (French Cup) came in the south, where third division Rodez performed an almighty giantkilling, beating Paris-Saint-Germain 3-1. PSG are having a good season in France this year and are currently on the coat-tails of Lyon in the Championnat, lying in second place.

But league form, prestige and glamour counted for nothing in this last sixteen tie and Rodez did more than enough to run out 3-1 winners after extra time, despite going a goal down early on. Miguel Pacios and a Jérémy Choplin double saw Rodez through after Sammy Traoré had given PSG a 9th minute lead, and PSG boss Paul Le Guen freely admitted after the match that Rodez thoroughly deserved to go through. On the overall balance of play they were the better side.

Elsewhere in the last sixteen, another shock saw holders Lyon, the Harlem Globetrotters of French football, crash out of the competition, going down 3-2 to Lille. Nicolas Fauvergue’s last minute goal won it for Les Dogues in a thrilling encounter full of end-to-end drama and attacking football. The two sides renew acquaintances this weekend, as they play each other in the league. Little A.S. Vitré, the success story of the last round, lost 3-0 at second division Sedan. Here is the full list of last sixteen results:

Rennes (Ligue Une) 3-0 Lorient (L1)
Boulogne-Sur-Mer (L2) 0-2 Toulouse (L1)
Guingamp (L2) 1-0 Le Mans (L1)
Dijon (L2) 1-1 Grenoble (L1) – Grenoble win 4-2 on penalties
AC Ajaccio (L2) 0-2 Monaco (L1)
Rodez (NAT) 3-1 Paris St. Germain (L1)
Lille (L1) 3-2 Olympique Lyonnais (L1)
Sedan (L2) 3-0 AS Vitre (CFA)

The draw for the quarter finals takes place on Sunday 8th March, but looking at the remaining teams it is difficult to pick a clear favourite.

The cast for the 2009 Copa del Rey final was also decided this week in Spain. It will be two of Spain’s member-owned clubs battling out for the crown in May, as FC Barcelona and Atletic Bilbao both came through their respective semi-finals to qualify.

Barcelona, 24 time winners, have not won this competition since the 1997/1998 season when they beat Real Mallorca on penalties in the final, but they will compete to make it number 25 this year after knocking out those same foes, Mallorca, in the semis.

Barca took a 2-0 lead from the first leg to Real Mallorca’s ONO Estadi and in all honesty never looked like relinquishing it during the second leg. Gonzalo Castro’s 45th minute strike gave los Barralets brief hope of turning the tie round, but ultimately it was that man Lionel Messi who secured Barca’s passage to the final, popping up late on to score an equaliser that left the Catalan giants 3-1 winners on aggregate.

In the other semi final tie disappointment reigned for Sevilla, as they threw away a 2-1 first leg lead to lose 3-0 to Atletic Bilbao at San Mamés in the replay. The Basques, who have only ever won the Copa del Rey once previously, turned on the style in the second leg and emerged comfortable winners in the end, sending their home fans into raptures.

Pitch invasion! Bilbao-style (EFE)

First half goals from Javi Martinez, Fernando
Llorente and Gaizka Toquero saw Sevilla off, and the repercussions for their coach Manolo Jimenez could be grave. In a poll on a Sevilla fan website after the match, 67% of supporters called for him to be sacked as manager in the summer. This despite Sevilla heading comfortably towards a Champions League finish in La Liga. The Copa del Rey final then, will look like this:

FC Barcelona v Atletic Bilbao

I find it somewhat amusing then, that the final of this year’s Copa del Rey (meaning King’s Cup) pits two of the clubs least likely to ever wish to salute the King of Spain against each other, given the political leanings of both clubs, but perhaps we best leave politics out of this for a moment. It should be a tight game. (Who am I kidding, its Barca’s for the taking, right?).

Who are you backing for cup glory, in both France and Spain? Let us know by leaving a comment. And don’t forget, stay tuned for the second part of our European domestic cup roundup when we will be looking at how things are progressing in Italy, Germany and Holland’s cup competitions.

Athletic Bilbao, Copa Del Rey, FC Barcelona, France, French Cup, Spain

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About Jonathan F

The boss of this here... Creator and Editor of Just-Football.com and world football analyst, watcher, freelancer and all-round enthusiast. Write for FourFourTwo, have also written for ITV, When Saturday Comes and others. Open to offers.

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