French Cup: Lens to host Toulouse, Strasbourg to welcome Nice in semi-final draw

The french cup semi-final draw on Thursday evening at the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu set up two knockout ties: Lens will host Toulouse at Bollaert, and Strasbourg will receive Nice, with the semi-finals scheduled for April 21 and 22.

Loïc Rémy pulled the first ball as Lens advanced on penalties

The draw took place one hour before the Lyon–Lens quarter-final, and Loïc Rémy drew first the ball corresponding to the winner of that tie. After Lens’s victory on penalties in Décines (2-2, 5-4 aux t. a. b. ), Lens earned the right to host Toulouse at Bollaert in the next round.

French Cup semi-final line-up formed by penalty drama

Toulouse qualified after beating OM at the Stade Vélodrome, a match that finished 2-2 and went to spot kicks (4-3 aux t. a. b. ), and will travel to Lens for the semi-final on either April 21 or April 22. Strasbourg, the competition’s three-time winner (1951, 1966 and 2001), was the first side to secure a place in the last four after a 2-1 victory over Reims (L2) on Tuesday.

Strasbourg to host Nice after their shootout win over Lorient

Nice reached the semi-finals by eliminating Lorient in a goalless game that was decided on penalties (0-0, 6-5 aux t. a. b. ), and will visit Strasbourg in the other semi-final. Strasbourg’s qualification on Tuesday and Nice’s victory on Wednesday complete the pairings for the French Cup last four.

The competition calendar now points to the semi-finals on April 21 and 22, with the final scheduled for either May 22 or May 23. Clubs will prepare for those dates as they finalize travel and match plans following the draw at Groupama Stadium.