The biggest sensation came from Alsace where fans of Olympique Strasbourg, residents of Regional 1, the equivalent of the 6th division, got rid of Clermont, 9th in L1, in front of 3000 spectators massed in the small Emile stadium -Stahl (0-0, 4 pens to 3).
Nice, finalist of the last edition, was defeated 1-0 at Le Puy, 16th and relegated to National.
Surprised in the 3rd minute by a goal scored by Mohamed Ben Fredj, the Aiglons did not manage to make up their meager delay.
Already struggling in the league (11th), the troops of Lucien Favre sink a little more.
Another weighty victim: Monaco.
5th in L1, ASM was unable to dominate Rodez (L2) after leading 2-0 and was surprised on penalties (2-2, 5 pens to 4).
Enough to get coach Philippe Clement out of his hinges.
The joy of the Puy players, Nice fallers, finalist of the Coupe de France 2022, on January 7, 2023 in Puy-en-Velay © OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP
"It's unacceptable, that's clear. I'm pissed off. At 2-0, you have to manage the match better," he complained.
The other elite clubs fared better.
OM had some scares in Hyères, especially after the exclusion in the 15th minute of Ivorian defender Eric Bailly, guilty of a huge foul on the chest of Almike Moussa N'Diaye.
The Hyères midfielder was then transported to the North Hospital in Marseille where he was admitted to intensive care, "as a precaution", according to the president of the Var club Mourad Boudjellal.
Marseille ended up winning 2-0 to 10 against 11.
Lyon, in great difficulty in the league (8th), did not shine but still dismissed Metz (L2) 2-1, just like Lens, runner-up to PSG in L1 who waited for the 72nd minute before giving up Linas -Montlhery (N3) 2-0.
Rennes did not force their talent either with a 2-1 success at Bordeaux (L2), reduced to ten in the second half.
Finally, the Nantes title holder did not tremble against Vire (N3), beaten 2-0, but lost his defender Nicolas Pallois, victim of a sprained knee, for "a few weeks, or even more", according to coach Antoine Kombouaré.
© 2023 AFP