The Couple de France final sets the stage for what is being touted as the biggest mismatch in domestic football history. Cash-rich Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain take on third-tier minnows Les Herbiers at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Tuesday.
PSG boss Unai Emery will be hoping to complete a domestic treble before leaving the club in the summer but Les Herbiers’ track record in the cup means the Parisians can’t afford to be complacent.
WHO ARE LES HERBIERS?
Les Herbiers Vendee Football was founded in 1919 – 51 years before PSG came into existence. They hail from a small town in western France of around 16,000 people and with a capacity of 5,000, their home ground Stade Massabielle can house about 30 per cent of their population.
HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
PSG should be wary of Les Herbiers who have beaten seven teams including two Ligue 2 sides to reach the showpiece event. A 2-1 victory over fifth division team Romorantin was sandwiched between wins over sixth division outfits Balma and Angoulame CFC.
They then turned over fellow third division participants Saint-Lo Manche in the Round of 32 before upsetting Auxerre and Lens. A 2-0 defeat of another side from the third tier in FC Chambly booked a dream final with PSG.
Contrasting fortunes
KEY PLAYER
If Les Herbiers are to pull off one of the greatest miracles in sport, they’ll need Kevin Rocheteau to play out of his skin. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder is on loan from Ligue 2 outfit Chamois Niortais and has the creative ingenuity and eye for goal to hurt PSG.
NEYMAR FACT
Neymar’s salary for 16 days equals Les Herbiers’ annual wage budget.
