Fourth-Tier Minnows Welcome Mighty Paris Saint-Germain in French Cup

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) begin their defence of the French Cup with a trip to play fourth-tier minnows Wasquehal in the round of 64 in their first game of 2016 on Sunday. (Manager Laurent Blanc Believes Paris Saint-Germain Can Reach UEFA Champions League Last Four)

Laurent Blanc's side took advantage of the short winter break to do some warm weather training in Qatar, where they beat Inter Milan 1-0 in a friendly on Wednesday with a goal scored by Jean-Kevin Augustin. (Paris Saint-Germain Have Financial Capability to Sign Lionel Messi: Angel di Maria)

The young striker will be one of the fringe players hoping to feature in the Cup tie in France's far north as PSG - top of Ligue 1, through to the last 16 of the Champions League and still unbeaten domestically this season - aim to pick up where they left off in the old year. (Zlatan Ibrahimovic Becomes Paris Saint-Germain's Top League Scorer in Nice Win)

"We are ready and I hope 2016 will be as good as 2015. We all know it will be difficult and that there is still work to do, but we also know what we are capable of," said Blanc after the Inter game.

Wasquehal are a modest club from the suburbs of Lille and will host the game at the 18,000-capacity Stadium Lille Metropole, which is not expected to be full despite the glamour draw.

Among their squad is Geoffrey Cabaye, the younger brother of France midfielder Yohan, formerly of PSG and now with Crystal Palace.

"I had been planning to spend New Year's Eve in England with my brother Yohan," Cabaye told La Voix du Nord. "But I had to cut short my stay across the Channel for obvious reasons.

"This is a chance that might only come up once in my life and my career as a player."

PSG lifted the French Cup last season by beating second-tier Auxerre 1-0 in the final and the road back to the Stade de France begins for all top-flight clubs this weekend.