French Cup 2025-2026: Lens-Nice, the likely lineups
At the neutral field of Saint-Denis, north of Paris, the final act of the French Cup will be staged: at 9 p.m. Lens and Nice will face each other, a contest that for both will not stop at simply winning the trophy.
The “Sang et Or,” after losing the point-to-point clash for the title against the battleship PSG, find themselves in the final after beating Marseille and Lyon in the previous rounds. For them, winning the French Cup represents a golden opportunity to crown in the noblest way an extraordinary journey of rebirth. Raising the trophy to the sky (for the first time in their history) would mean giving continuity to the growth of a club that, not so long ago, had also experienced the miracle of a return to the Champions League after a good twenty-one years of waiting.
Diametrically opposite scenario and bordering on the surreal for Nice, whose season has turned into a real thriller. The Côte d’Azur Rossoneri are facing the possibility of winning the cup to break a historic title fast, but also of plunging into hell. The team, in fact, has resoundingly slipped to 16th place in Ligue 1 and is now awaiting the dramatic play-off not to relegate in the double confrontation with Saint-Étienne. It is a chaotic situation with very high tension, aggravated by the real risk of having to face these decisive matches without several key national teams committed to World Cup 2026 retreats, given the dates imposed by FIFA. For the ownership and for the city, in short, everything is decided on the razor’s edge between triumph and total failure.
Sage relies on Risser in goal, fresh from his first World Cup call-up, Ganiou and central Sarr and Celik, while on the right outfield former Roma player Saud Abdulhamid is ready with Udol on the other side. Three-quarter entrusted to the class of Thauvin along with Said, supporting the only forward Edouard.
Puel with Diouf between the posts, defense led by the highly experienced Dante with Mendy and Bah on his sides, Clauss and Bard as the fifth midfielders, keys of the midfield entrusted to Sanson, forward the Wahi-Cho pair.
Probable formations
LENS (3-4-2-1): Risser; Ganiou, Sarr, Celik; Abdulhamid, Thomasson, Sangare, Udol; Thauvin, Said; Edouard. All. Sage.
NICE (3-5-2): Diouf; Mendy, Dante, Bah; Clauss, Sanson, Vanhoutte, Diop, Bard; Wahi, Cho. All. Puel.
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