Coupe de France Preview: Evian look to continue dream run

Evian TG continue their bid for a maiden top-class trophy when they host Lorient in the Coupe de France semi-finals on Wednesday.

Having been formed through a merger in 2003 and only joining the top tier of French football in the 2011-12 season, Evian have had limited opportunities to win major trophies and eliminated Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain to reach the last four of the Coupe de France.

Based in the small French town of Annecy, just over the border from Swiss city Geneva, Evian gained their current name in 2007 when Gaillard’s Croix-de-Savoie (itself a merged club) joined with Olympique Thonon-Chablais, before being bought by Franck Riboud, who owns mineral water company Evian.

Evian are under threat of relegation from Ligue 1 as they sit in the drop zone with three games remaining, but head coach Pascal Dupraz will make the cup his first priority on Wednesday.

French striker Kevin Berigaud will be key for Evian as the 24-year-old has scored three of his side’s six goals in their Coupe de France campaign.

Evian sit 10 places below Lorient on the Ligue 1 table and have lost three league games in a row since their penalty shootout triumph over PSG in the quarter-finals.

In a boost for Dupraz, however, Lorient are also in poor form having slumped to eighth after two straight defeats in Ligue 1.

Lorient overcame Toulouse 1-0 in their quarter-final and will head to Annecy with the aim of reaching their first Coupe de France final since they won the competition in 2012.

In the other semi-final on Tuesday, Troyes, who sit just below Evian in the relegation zone of Ligue 1, will welcome Bordeaux to the Stade de l’Aube.

Troyes have won just one of their past seven meetings with Bordeaux but have eliminated stronger opposition on their way to the semi-finals.

While Bordeaux have yet to meet a fellow Ligue 1 club in this season’s Coupe de France, Troyes have knocked off Sochaux and Nancy, thumping the latter 3-0 in their quarter-final.