Football: the entry into the competition of the N3 teams, a clash between two R1 clubs… the 3rd round of the Coupe de France on the weekend’s programme

Will ES Rochefort Signargues create a surprise against Vauvert ? Midi Libre – Eric Doladille

The third round of the Coupe de France, marked by the entry into the competition of the N3 teams, offers a highly anticipated duel between Grau-du-Roi (R1) and Montpellier Atlas Paillade (R1), this Saturday. Meanwhile, the Petits Poucets will try to achieve the feat.

The first rounds of the Coupe de France often resemble enchanted parentheses. We eagerly await the draws, we check off the matches to follow and we make our little predictions. Overview of the main matches of the third regional round of the legendary national competition.

The shock: Le Grau-du-Roi – Montpellier Atlas Paillade

Respectively fourth and second in group A of Regional 1 last season, Le Grau du Roi and Montpellier Atlas Paillade find themselves at this stage of the competition for the shock of this third of the Coupe de France on the ex-Languedoc Roussillon side.

Winner of their first league match against Lunel (1-0), the Gardois will have the advantage of playing on their home ground at the Stade Michel Mezy, Saturday at 7 p.m.: “We're going to face a quality team,” warns Grau du Roi coach Morgan Marion, who witnessed in person last Saturday's Pailladin victory against the Canet-en-Roussillon reserve team (4-1). If we want to have a good run, we have to face this kind of opponent. This match will be a continuation of what we experienced this weekend when we faced Lunel. Good or bad draw, I don't have a strong opinion."

For his part, Geoffrey Dernis, the former MHSC player and new coach of Atlas Paillade believes that "this is not a good draw for anyone. It's a big game, I'm not unhappy because we're going to have a real opponent in front of us. We would have preferred to play at home but we're confident, it's going to be a great match."

Another duel in this third round is particularly eye-catching. On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., SC Sète (R2) will host FU Narbonne at the Stade Louis-Michel.

The entry into the competition of the N3 teams

Other matches to follow are those of the teams involved in group J of National 3 who are discovering the competition after three league matches. For three of them, the draw was rather lenient since they will face departmental level teams.

Sunday from 3pm, two Gard derbies will be on the program: Beaucaire travels to the pitch of FC Cabassut (D1) at the Pujolas stadium while Calvisson (D2) will have a lot to do against Alès. At the same time, Aigues-Mortes travels to Hérault to challenge Saint-Thibéry (D1) and Agde to Aude to play against US du Minervois (D1).

The challenge of the Little Thumbs

Will the adventure of the Coupe de France continue for two clubs from Departmental 3?? In Hérault, Racing club Montpellier Cévennes welcomes Castelnau-Le Crès (R2), Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Alain-Delylle stadium.

At the same time, in the Gard, ES Rochefort Signargues will face Vauvert (R1) for what will be a great celebration of local football: “This match will serve as a reward for the work of the club's managers, educators and volunteers,” says coach Pierre-Yves Amill, who had to try twice to eliminate Saint-Paulet after the match was given a replay. For two or three years, we have been rebuilding the club in collaboration with the town hall. This third round is a great reward, we will try to play the game to the full even if it will be a difficult match. Two years ago, we played the Nîmes Olympique reserve team in the Gard-Lozère Cup and we lost on penalties. Why not do better against Vauvert ?"

Two cities, two derbies

Sunday at 3pm, Montpellier and Nîmes will be the scene of two derbies. In the Hérault capital, at the Cité Astruc stadium, Montpellier Arceaux (D2) will host FC Petit Bard (R2). President Max Veray's men will not be favourites against their Montpellier neighbours. In the Gard prefecture, Nîmes Chemin Bas (R2), which reached the 32nd round of the competition in 2021, will host Marguerittes (R3).

The program of the Gardois and Héraultais

Saturday, September 14 (6 p.m.)
Lattes (Hérault, R2) – ESC Le Buisson (Lozère, R3)
Revel (Haute-Garonne, R1) – Canet-en-Roussillon (Pyrènèes-Orientales, N3)

Saturday, September 14 (6:30 p.m.)
SC Sète (Hérault, R3) – FU Narbonne (Aude, R1)

Saturday, September 14 (6:45 p.m.)
Saint-André Sangonis (Hérault, R3) – Maugio Carnon (Hérault, R3)

Saturday, September 14 (7 p.m.)
Grau-du-Roi (Gard, R1) – Montpellier Atlas Paillade (Hérault, R1)

Saturday 14 September (8pm)
Perpignan Nord (Pyrénées-Orientales, R3) – Béziers (Hérault, R1)

Sunday 15 September (3pm)
Cabassut (Gard, D1) – Beaucaire (Gard, N3)
Saint-Georges-de-Luzencon (Aveyron, D1) – Frontignan (Hérault, R1)
Rochefort-sur-Gard (Gard, D3) – Vauvert (Gard, R1)
Racing Perpignan (Pyrénnées-Orientales, D1) – Clermontaise (Hérault, R1)
Saint-Thibery (Hérault, D1) – Aigues-Mortes (Gard, N3)
Gignac (Hérault, D1) – Fabrègues (Hérault, R1)
Montpellier Cévennes (Hérault, D3) – Castelnau-Le Crès (Hérault, R2)
Calvisson (Gard, D2) – Alès (Gard, N3)
US du Minervois (Aude, D1) – Agde (Hérault, N3)
Marvejols (Lozère, D2) – Lunel (Hérault, R1)
Jacou Clapiers (Hérault, (D1) – Bagnols Pont (Gard, R2)
Montpellier Arceaux (Hérault, D2) – FC Petit Bard (Hérault, R2)
Nîmes Chemin Bas (Gard, R2) – Marguerittes (Gard, R3)

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