Coupe de la Ligue 2008-09

The 2008-2009 Coupe de la Ligue began on August 19, 2008 and the final will be held in March 2009 at the Stade de France. The defending champions are Paris Saint-Germain FC, who defeated RC Lens 2-1 in last year's final on March 29, 2008. As of today, the defending champions have been barred from participating in this year's cup due to a group of PSG supporters unfurling a racist banner midway through the final. [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=521204&cc=5901 Lens rage after PSG fans banner insult] ] [ [http://www.frenchleague.com/coupeLigue/lireArticle.asp?idArticle=10166 PSG banned from 2008/09 Coupe de la Ligue] ] However, after appealing the ban, a Tribunal Administratif de Paris judge vacated the ruling allowing PSG to defend their Coupe de la Ligue title. Due to this, a new draw was announced. [ [http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_WORLDFOOTBALL/idUKL0768706620080507 PSG appeal against League Cup ban] ] [ [http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/7/20/sports/21873261&sec=sports PSG to appeal against league ban] ] [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=562842&sec=europe&&cc=5901 PSG allowed to defend Coupe de la Ligue] ] French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes vowed to get the ruling overturned to the original ruling stating: "I won't give up" and "I can't allow acts like this to go unpunished." [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=562842&sec=europe&&cc=5901 PSG allowed to defend Coupe de la Ligue] ] However, this looks to not be occuring.

News

On July 16, the Ligue de Football Professionnel announced the calendar for the Coupe de la Ligue. [ [http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/lireArticle.asp?idArticle=10437 Le format de l'édition 2008/2009] ]

Calendar

Note: "Due to Paris Saint-Germain FC re-entry into the tournament, the draw was re-done with different dates attached to the matches. [ [http://www.lfp.fr/actualiteLFP/lireArticle.asp?idArticle=10605 La LFP est amenée à modifier le calendrier] ]

First Round

Note: "Team 1 is the designated home team."

"These matches were played on 3 September 2008."

econd Round

"These matches were played on 9 September 2008."

Third Round

"These matches were played on 23 September, 2008."

"These matches were played on 24 September, 2008."

Final Draw

Right Side Bracket

8TeamBracket

RD1=Round of 16
RD1-team1=Lyon
RD1-seed1=1
RD1-team2=Metz
RD1-seed2=13
RD1-score1=
RD1-score2=

RD1-team3=Vannes
RD1-seed3=5
RD1-team4=Auxerre
RD1-seed4=15
RD1-score3=
RD1-score4=

RD1-team5=Nice
RD1-seed5=7
RD1-team6=Créteil
RD1-seed6=16
RD1-score5=
RD1-score6=

RD1-team7=Le Havre
RD1-seed7=6
RD1-team8=Rennes
RD1-seed8=4
RD1-score7=
RD1-score8=

RD2=Quarterfinals
RD2-seed1=
RD2-team1=
RD2-seed2=
RD2-team2=
RD2-score1=
RD2-score2=

RD2-seed3=
RD2-seed1=
RD2-team1=
RD2-seed2=
RD2-team2=
RD2-score1=
RD2-score2=

RD3=Semi-finals
RD2-seed1=
RD2-team1=
RD2-seed2=
RD2-team2=
RD2-score1=
RD2-score2=

Left Side Bracket

8TeamBracket

RD1=Round of 16
RD1-team1=Bordeaux
RD1-seed1=2
RD1-team2=Guingamp
RD1-seed2=11
RD1-score1=
RD1-score2=

RD1-team3=Montpellier
RD1-seed3=14
RD1-team4=Châteauroux
RD1-seed4=10
RD1-score3=
RD1-score4=

RD1-team5=PSG
RD1-seed5=8
RD1-team6=Nancy
RD1-seed6=3
RD1-score5=
RD1-score6=

RD1-team7=Sochaux
RD1-seed7=9
RD1-team8=Lens
RD1-seed8=12
RD1-score7=
RD1-score8=

RD2=Quarterfinals
RD2-seed1=
RD2-team1=
RD2-seed2=
RD2-team2=
RD2-score1=
RD2-score2=

RD2-seed3=
RD2-seed1=
RD2-team1=
RD2-seed2=
RD2-team2=
RD2-score1=
RD2-score2=

RD3=Semi-finals
RD2-seed1=
RD2-team1=
RD2-seed2=
RD2-team2=
RD2-score1=
RD2-score2=

Final

"Coupe de la Ligue Final 2009"

References

External Links

* [http://www.lfp.fr/coupeLigue/index.asp Coupe de la Ligue Official Website]
*Ligue 1 2008-09
*Ligue 2 2008-09
*Championnat National 2008-09