A Coupe de France title in the 2021-22 season was a huge achievement for FC Nantes and a milestone in their history. Of course, their journey to clinch the title wasn't without its complications along the way.
Starting their campaign in the round of 64, Nantes faced Sochaux, where they hung on in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. This win set the stage for a series of impressive performances in the following rounds as they defeated AS Vitré, Brest, and Bastia 2-0 successively steadily advancing towards the trophy.
They then had an intense semifinal clash against Monaco, ending in a 2-2 draw. However, Nantes prevailed in the penalty shootout, securing their place in the final.
In the final against Nice, Ludovic Blas emerged as a key figure, scoring the match’s solitary goal to seal the title for Nantes. Blas' contributions had been key throughout the tournament, as he ended it as one of the top scorers with five goals, further underscoring his importance to Les Canaris.
The final was Nantes' fourth appearance in the Coupe de France final, and the win the first since their 2000 Coupe de France victory over Calais. It was an important resurgence for the club after a prior year's disappointment, where they had exited the tournament early following a defeat against RC Lens.
Now as the 107th edition of the tournament gets set to start for Ligue 1 clubs, Nantes are starting a new quest for glory, starting their journey in the round of 64 against Pau FC, a strong opponent from Ligue 2. There’s plenty of excitement and anticipation as Nantes aim to replicate their run from 2022 and again write their name in Coupe de France history.
