Lens-Paris: A duel in the north

coupe de france HONOURS

Racing Club de Lens have yet to win the Coupe de France, despite reaching three finals. They were beaten 3-2 by northern neighbours LOSC in 1948 and then in 1975, were defeated by an iconic AS Saint-Etienne side 2-0. And the last team to leave them disappointed? A certain Paris Saint-Germain, who won the 1998 final 2-1.

The Parisians have been to 20 finals and won 15, a French record. The most recent came last season when they won 2-1 against Olympique Lyonnais in an epic final at the Décathlon Aréna in Lille, just 30km from where Sunday's game will be played.

THE STATS

OPPOSITION STRENGTHS

Will Still sets his team up in one of two systems: 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1. France international Brice Samba will be in goal, he's recorded seven clean sheets in 15 Ligue 1 games this season. In front of him, Austria international Kevin Danso and the promising Abdukodir Khusanov (20) have formed a formidable partnership that is keeping the likes of Jonathan Gradit and Malang Sarr out of the side.

On the right,  Poland international Przemyslaw Frankowski (3 goals, 1 assist in L1 this season) is a shoo-in, as is Facundo Medina  on the opposite flank. In midfield, Adrien Thomasson (2 goals, 1 assists) provides the link between defence and attack. Alongside the former Strasbourg man, there's Andy Diouf and Neil El Aynaoui. A little further up the pitch, expect Angelo Fulgini (1 goal, 1 assist) to pull the strings.

The former Mainz player has been in great form this season, and Still can call on Portugal U21 international David Pereira da Costa as a back-up option. On the right wing, young Rémy Labeau Lascary (2 goals, 1 assist) had established himself of late, but an ACL injury sustained in his last outing means he is absent. There are two options to replace him: M'Bala Nzola (4 goals, 1 assist), who had been first-choice centre-forward till now, or the veteran Florian Sotoca.

One thing is certain: Martín Satriano and Wesley Saïd are both out injured. On the left, Anass Zaroury should start. The Morocco international - a late summer arrival from Burnley - has Still's favours ahead of Deiver Machado, though the Colombia international's defensive qualities could earn him the nod.