The preview: Orléans vs Paris

THE context

After their big win at amateur side US Revel in the previous round (0-9), Paris Saint-Germain launched their Coupe de France campaign in perfect style. The Parisians are unbeaten in three matches in the calendar year with a fine 2-0 win over RC Lens last weekend their most recent triumph.

US Orléans Loiret Football will no doubt try to make things difficult. Currently 12th in the third tier of French football, they have picked up after a rough start to the season, winning five times in their last six outings in all competitions. In the previous round, they defeated fellow third division outfit Nîmes Olympique (2-1).

THE KEY STATS

After games against Châteauroux (1-3), in Lens versus Pays de Cassel (0-7), in Marseille (2-1) and most recently Castres against Revel (0-9), the Parisians are gearing up for their fifth successive away tie in the Coupe de France. It's the Club's second-longest such streak (5 also February '92 to  May '93 & January-March 2020), while the record of seven stretches back to the period February 1996 to February 1998. Kylian Mbappé has the chance to establish another personal best if he tallies an assist: it'll be a third assist in as many Coupe de France games, something he's yet to do in his career.

As for USO, they have won five of their last seven Coupe de France Round of 32 ties, losing only in 1981 and 2007. The last time they were at this stage of the competition in 2019, they defeated Bergerac Périgord FC (National 2) and then FC Metz (Ligue 2) before losing to top-flight side, Stade Rennais FC (Ligue 1) in the quarter-final. Against Paris Saint-Germain, Orléans have lost once and won once in three competitive games. 

OPPOSITION STRENGTHS

Karim Mokeddem and his team set up mainly in two formations: 3-5-2 and 3-4-3. Vincent Viot usually starts in goal, but Owen-Césaire Matimbou has been playing in the Coupe de France. Guadaloupe centre-back Nicolas Saint-Ruf wears the captain's armband, and alongside him are two compatriots: Morgan Jean-Pierre and Steve Solvet. They appear to be ahead of Virgil Thérésin in the pecking order to fill out the back three.

Jimmy Halby Touré is likely to start on the right ahead of Brandon Agounon, who can play on the right or the left, and could start in place of Ryan Ponti - the latter has started a number of games as wing-back, but is more attacking than his teammate from Benin. In midfield, former Red Star man Loïc Goujon has established himself as pivotal, and youngster Lucas Bretelle is likely to start alongside him, though Ponti and ex-Stade de Reims man Grégory Berthier could also feature.

Kévin Fortuné represents the biggest threat with five goals and four assists in 16 competitive outings. Alongside him, Adrian Dabasse (4 goals and 6 assists in 16 matches) is another major weapon for USO. Arnold Vula is another option with five goals and an assist in 10 matches.