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Underdog Triumphs Highlight 8th Round of Coupe de France

November 22, 2025 8:29pm

Lower-division clubs USEM and FC Périgny make historic advances in the Coupe de France 8th round, setting up exciting matches against higher-tier teams.

Key details

• USEM, a Régional 3 club, will play Saint-Étienne at stade Geoffroy-Guichard on November 29.
• The match offers USEM players their first experience at an iconic stadium with a large crowd.
• FC Périgny qualified for the 8th round for the first time after winning a penalty shootout against Saint-Méziéry.
• Périgny will face Beaucouzé from league R1 on November 30 in the next round.

The 8th round of the Coupe de France is showcasing remarkable progress and historic achievements by underdog football clubs. One standout match features Union Sportive Écotay-Moingt (USEM), a Régional 3 club competing in the eighth division. USEM will face Saint-Étienne in a unique derby held at the iconic stade Geoffroy-Guichard on November 29 at 20:30. Loïc Perrin, sporting director of Saint-Étienne, confirmed the venue, emphasizing the unprecedented opportunity for USEM players to compete before a large crowd in "Le Chaudron." The event has generated great excitement, especially since many local USEM fans also support Saint-Étienne, magnifying the derby's significance.

Meanwhile, FC Périgny achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the 8th round for the first time in their history. On November 16, they advanced by defeating Saint-Méziéry 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw during regular time in Aube. Périgny is set to face Beaucouzé, an R1 league team, on November 30, continuing their unprecedented run. These underdog stories highlight the magic of the Coupe de France and the opportunities it provides lower division teams to compete against established clubs, captivating football fans across France.

This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.