Saturday brought few upsets in the French Cup, as the weather played havoc with the fixture list.
Lyon, Bordeaux, Monaco, Toulouse and Rennes among the victors
Saturday brought few upsets in the French Cup, as the weather played havoc with the fixture list.
A number of games fell foul of the big freeze this weekend, but the top flight sides that were in action enjoyed a productive night's work.
Bordeaux continue to lead the way in the Ligue 1 standings and they ground out a 1-0 win over
Rodez, courtesy of Wendel's 77th minute penalty.
Toulouse were also narrow victors, with Paulo Machado (9) edging them past
Les Herbiers.
Le Mans also prevailed by the odd goal over top flight rivals
Valenciennes, with Anthony Le Tallec's 23rd minute strike proving to be the difference between the sides.
Lyon flew out of the blocks in their meeting with
Strasbourg, with Bafetimbi Gomis (11) and Michel Bastos (14) handing them an early advantage.
Nicolas Fauvergue pulled one back for the second division outfit on 35 minutes, but Claude Puel's men wrapped the game up 18 minutes from time when Bastos notched his second.
Rennes had no such worries in their home date with
Caen, as goals from Jimmy Briand (69) and Ismael Bangoura (78) secured their safe passage into the next round.
Boulogne were the evening's most comprehensive victors, as they strolled to a 4-1 win away at
FC Seclin.
Antony Lecointe (7), Laurent Agouazi (14), Johann Ramare (pen 66) and Alexandre Cuvillier (87) were all on target for the Ligue 1 strugglers.
Monaco are fortunate that their name will also be in the draw for the last 32, with the principality side scraping past
Tours 4-3 on penalties after being held to a goalless draw at Stade Louis II.
