lorientais derby

The Coupe de France match between les Rouge & Noir and Lorient between Brittany neighbours today is marked with a hint of revenge for lorientais.

Falling 2-1 to Rennais just before the holiday break, Christian Gourcuff's les Merlus are one of the best managed clubs in France, balancing the need of local development with budgetary constraints. However their attack, orchestrated by Fabrice Abriel and young striker Kevin Gameiro, have fallen on tough times in the championnat of recent and without a victory since mid-December when they beat Le Havre AC. While showing a more secure defensive with five successive draws in January and February, they have lost their last two matches with anemic attack the culprit.

While the derby wafts with parfum de revanche, Rennais' effort to advance to the quarter-finals will be greatly assisted with the return to health of Olivier Thomert and Kader Mangane, albeit without Carlos Bocanegra who is suspended. Confident from Sunday evenings performance at the Gerland, les Rouge & Noir response today will go a long way is establishing their maturity and return to form. However beyond the strict numbers, facts and figures, this is a derby that will see the winner through to one of the most important trophys in France.