RC Strasbourg Alsace boss Julien Stéphan was satisfied after his side booked a place in the Coupe de France round of 32 thanks to Habib Diallo's lone strike away to Valenciennes on Thursday evening.
With dense fog affecting visibility at the Stade du Hainaut, it may not have been a vintage cup clash, but Senegal striker Habib Diallo's 15th-minute strike got the job done for Le Racing
'Stay on our positive dynamic'
"We came to qualify and make it to the round of 32, mission accomplished," said Stéphan after seeing Diallo finish first time at the near post to cap a strong team move involving Kévin Gameiro and Adrien Thomasson. "We wanted to stay on our positive dynamic and although the conditions weren't the easiest, we did the job. I don't remember ever having played in such conditions before. The players told me about the game in Lens last year, which was played in a similar context. It requires more concentration and energy."
The goal was Diallo's ninth of a prolific season the mirrors that of the club under Stéphan, who has Le Racing in seventh place with just one defeat in their last seven in Ligue 1 Uber Eats (three wins) as they prepare for Wednesday's Round 19 trip to promoted Clermont.