Coupe de France wrap: PSG struggle, Lyon lose

Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-German withstood a spirited Arras display to advance 4-3 in the Coupe de France, while holders Lyon crashed out.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men, who were without talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the round of 32 meeting on Sunday, opened a two-goal lead inside the first two minutes through Ezequiel Lavezzi and Blaise Matuidi.

The fifth tier side reduced the deficit courtesy of Mustapha Ait Bouhou in the 26th minute before Zoumana Camara restored PSG’s two-goal advantage with five minutes remaining in the half.

However, Arras refused to surrender and hit back six minutes into the second half through Arnaud Despres.

Lavezzi netted his second to reinforce the buffer between the two sides but Sebastien Bernard set up a grand-stand finish with a third goal nine minutes from time.

However, it was a day to forget for Lyon, who were knocked out 4-2 on penalties by third division club Epinal.

After a goalless extra-time period with scores locked at 3-3, Epinal produced the biggest result of the round as Gueida Fofana and Bakary Kone missed their spot-kicks.

In other results on Sunday, Marseille overcame Guingamp 2-1 in extra-time, defending Ligue 1 champions Montpellier defeated Bourg-Peronnas 2-1 and Bordeaux left it late to beat Chateauroux 3-2 after 30 minutes of extra-time.

Caen striker Faycal Fajr converted two penalties but it was not enough as Saint-Etienne recorded a 3-2 victory, a Filip Dordevic brace inspired Nantes to a 3-2 triumph at Dieppe, Ligue 2 outfit Lens accounted for top-flight club Rennes 2-1 and Nice needed extra-time to dispose of Metz 3-2.

Meanwhile, Brest, Sedan, Avenir Foot Lozere, Ca Bastia, Meaux Academy Football and Fontenay all progressed to the next round.