The Coupe de France takes center stage tonight, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as two of France's most decorated clubs, Lille OSC and Olympique Lyonnais, face off in a blockbuster Round of 32 encounter. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT at the Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
With both teams currently neck-and-neck in Ligue 1—Lille in 4th and Lyon just two points behind in 5th—this cup tie is a high-stakes psychological battle for a spot in the last 16.
The Storyline: Tactical Evolution & Elite Ambition
Lille: Defending the Home Fortress
Bruno Génésio’s Lille side enters this fixture looking for a definitive response after a surprising 2–0 home defeat to Rennes last weekend. Despite that slip-up, "Les Dogues" have been formidable at home this season. A major focal point remains the evergreen Olivier Giroud, who at 39 continues to lead the line with clinical precision. Lille’s path to this round was hard-fought, requiring a late winner from Marius Broholm to edge past Saint-Maur in December.
Lyon: The Fonseca Return
The narrative is dominated by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca returning to his former stomping ground. Lyon is currently the most in-form team in the tie, riding a four-match winning streak that included a statement 3–1 away win over Monaco to open 2026. The January arrival of Brazilian starlet Endrick on loan from Real Madrid has added an extra layer of excitement, with the teenager expected to make his debut tonight.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Lille Team News
Suspended: Lille faces a defensive crisis with Romain Perraud, Nathan Ngoy, and Alexsandro all serving bans.
Injury Ward: Ethan Mbappé is a major doubt after picking up a knock, while Ousmane Touré is out long-term with an ACL injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ozer; Meunier, Mbemba, Mandi, Verdonk; André, Bentaleb; Broholm, Haraldsson, Fernandez-Pardo; Giroud.
Lyon Team News
International Duty: Defender Moussa Niakhaté is unavailable as he represents Senegal at AFCON.
Injury Update: Ernest Nuamah (ACL) and Malick Fofana (ankle) are sidelined.
Key Figure: Czech star Pavel Šulc, who scored a brace in the previous round, is expected to start in a creative role behind the strikers.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Descamps; Kluivert, Mata, Tagliafico; Maitland-Niles, Tolisso, Tessmann, Abner; Merah; Satriano, Šulc.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Lyon’s Edge: Lyon has won the last two competitive meetings between these sides, including a narrow 1–0 victory at this stadium earlier in the season.
Late Drama: Lille has a reputation for "finishing strong," having scored 10 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches this season.
Cup Resilience: Lyon has reached the last 16 in seven of the last eight seasons, though they were knocked out in the Round of 32 on penalties last year.
Clean Sheet Battle: Both sides kept clean sheets in their opening Coupe de France matches last month (Lille 1–0, Lyon 3–0).
Tactical Analysis: Experience vs. Momentum
The match will likely be a battle of styles: Génésio’s more direct approach targeting Olivier Giroud’s aerial prowess versus Fonseca’s sophisticated possession-based system. With Lille’s defense depleted by suspensions, Lyon will look to exploit the lack of familiarity in the hosts' backline through the trickery of Khalis Merah and the arrival of Endrick from the bench.
Match Prediction
This is widely seen as the most balanced tie of the round. While Lille’s home record is strong, their defensive absences against a soaring Lyon side led by a manager who knows the Pierre-Mauroy inside out suggests a slight edge for the visitors.
Final Score Prediction: Lille 1–2 Lyon
