RC Strasbourg secured a 2-1 victory over Stade de Reims on Tuesday evening in the Coupe de France quarter-final, advancing to the semi-finals. Gessime Yassine shone in his first start, while both teams' goalkeepers made crucial saves. Players like Martial Godo underperformed in the match held at la Meinau.
The quarter-final Coupe de France match between RC Strasbourg and Stade de Reims, played on Tuesday, March 4, 2026, at la Meinau, ended with a 2-1 win for the Alsatians, making them the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. Reims conceded both goals late via penalties, one in the 83rd minute and the other in the 87th, both converted by Joaquin Panichelli.
Standout performances included 20-year-old Gessime Yassine, recently from Dunkerque, who was highly active in his first start. His sharp dribbles and speed troubled the Reims defense, though he received a yellow card for a blatant simulation in the first half, leading to an initially awarded but later canceled penalty. Valentin Barco proved indispensable, providing key passes, including a clever lofted ball to Panichelli in the first half, akin to Vitinha's role at PSG.
Goalkeepers also impressed. Reims' Alexandre Olliero made several fine saves, such as one on Guéla Doué's shot in the 36th minute, delaying the inevitable until the final stages. Strasbourg's Mike Penders faced few threats but was solid, notably with a superb stop on Sekine's effort in the 68th minute.
Disappointments came from Martial Godo, who was ineffective during his 61 minutes before being substituted by Julio Enciso. Swedish player Sebastian Nanasi missed two clear chances: a curled shot in the 43rd and a shot over the bar in the 45th after a header from Barco. Panichelli, despite his decisive goal, struggled against Reims' central defenders like Nicolas Pallois and had an ego clash with Enciso over taking the first penalty.
