French Cup up next for PSG

PARIS (AFP) –

Zlatan Ibrahimovic gives the thumbs-up during a French league clash against Bordeaux on January 20, 2013. Carlo Ancelotti’s PSG usurped former leaders Lyon following an emotional 1-0 victory. Ibrahimovic scored the only goal, but the Swedish talisman will miss the midweek tie through suspension.

Fresh off a return to the top of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain continue their quest for silverware on Wednesday in the French Cup with the visit of Toulouse.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side usurped former leaders Lyon following an emotional 1-0 victory at Bordeaux over the weekend, two days after the death of PSG performance director Nick Broad, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic separating the sides at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

However, the Swedish talisman will miss the midweek tie through suspension.

Thiago Motta is also banned, while injuries to defensive partners Alex and Thiago Silva leave PSG with a depleted backbone for the last 32 encounter at Parc des Princes.

Meanwhile, Toulouse boss Alain Casanova believes his side have turned the corner after a barren run that saw his side collect just four points from eight matches.

Following a 2-1 win over Nancy on Saturday, an optimistic Casanova set his sights on a fruitful second half of the campaign.

“I liked what my team showed. We’re on a good run, and it bodes well for the rest of the season.”

Epinal’s players celebrate after defeating Nantes in the French Cup on January 22, 2013. Epinal, who knocked out holders Lyon 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the Round of 64 earlier this month, repeated the trick against Nantes.

Third-tier minnows Epinal claimed another major scalp after eliminating eight-time national champions Nantes in a penalty shoot-out on Tuesday in their Last 32 clash.

Epinal, who knocked out holders Lyon 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the Round of 64 earlier this month, repeated the trick against Nantes, who are currently in second place in the second division but are traditionally one of the country’s biggest clubs.

Nantes striker Filip Djordjevic had taken the Round of 32 tie into extra time as his last-gasp equaliser cancelled out Judicael Crillon’s opener.

The tie finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time, before the hosts, from the Vosges department of eastern France, triumphed 4-3 in the shoot-out.

Top-tier sides Lorient, Evian and Troyes all won away to lower-league opposition on Tuesday, while Marseille’s away tie against Rouen was postponed after a major gas leak at a factory in the Normandy city.

Fixtures:

Wednesday

Nice v Nancy, Montpellier v Sochaux, Raon-l’Etape v Istres, Meaux Academy v Saint-Etienne, Venissieux v Le Poire-sur-Vie, CA Bastia v Brest, Moulins v Bordeaux, Stade Bordelais v Lens, PSG v Toulouse

Thursday

Plabennec v Lille