Mamadou Samassa believes Stade Lavallois can defy the odds against Olympique Lyonnais as the Ligue 2 side prepare for a daunting Coupe de France last-16 trip to Groupama Stadium.
Lyon, fourth in Ligue 1 and already through to the Europa League round of 16, host Laval on Tuesday evening with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The gap between the two clubs on paper is significant, but Laval’s experienced goalkeeper insists the Cup offers a platform where reputations can be overturned.
Stade Lavallois arrive in Lyon as clear underdogs. They sit 17th in Ligue 2 and face an opponent enjoying a strong domestic campaign.
Yet Laval have already shown resilience in this year’s competition, notably knocking out Guingamp with a 1-0 victory scored deep into stoppage time in the round of 64.
Samassa, now 35, knows what it takes to go all the way in the Coupe de France, having lifted the trophy with Guingamp in 2014.
Speaking ahead of the tie, the Malian international underlined the challenge posed by Lyon while stressing that belief remains central to Laval’s approach.
“Obviously, we’ll be the underdogs against a team that’s doing well in the league. If Lyon are at 100%, they’ll definitely be the better team.
But we’re going to approach this match normally. We know very well that in the Cup, anything can happen. Anything is possible!” he told the French Football Federation’s website.
For Laval, the task is as much mental as tactical. Lyon’s individual quality and depth make them favourites to progress, particularly at home, but Cup history repeatedly shows that momentum and discipline can narrow even the widest gaps.
Samassa’s presence offers reassurance at the back, with his experience viewed as a key asset in a high-pressure environment.
The goalkeeper’s confidence reflects a wider determination within the Laval camp to compete without fear.
While Lyon are expected to dominate possession and chances, Laval’s focus will be on organisation, patience and seizing any opportunity that comes their way.
As kickoff approaches, the narrative is familiar: a heavyweight against a challenger with little to lose.
For Lyon, it is about avoiding complacency; for Laval, it is about embracing the unpredictability that defines the Coupe de France.
With Samassa leading from the back, the Tangos travel believing that, in this competition, possibility often outweighs probability.
