Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Coupe de la Ligue where we have Nantes host Nice in the quarter-finals at Beaujoire.

It's been cup action time across Europe for the whole of this week, and our focus is on France tonight and the Coupe de la Ligue where a spot in the semi-finals is up for grabs. We have Nantes, who are chasing a european spot in Ligue 1 having only been promoted last term, take on Nice who are struggling to live up to expectation this season as they try to push towards the top half of the table.

Before we go any further, let's take a look at the two teams, starting with the hosts.

NANTES XI: Riou, Alhadhur, Cichero, Cissokho, Vizcarrondo, Bessat, Deaux, Trebel, Veretout, Djordjevic, Gakpe

Manager Michel Der Zakarian proves how serious he is taking this competition by naming his strongest possible side.

However, Der Zakarian has made four changes to the team that beat Lorient 1-0 in Ligue 1 at the weekend, as Papy Djilobodji, Alejandro Bedoya, Birama Toure and Johan Audel all drop out of the team.

In their places come Gabriel Cichero, Vincent Bessat, Lucas Deaux and the highly-rated young midfielder Jordan Veretout.

And here is what Der Zakarian has at his disposal among the Nantes substitutes.

NANTES BENCH: Dupe, Djidji, Bedoya, Toure, Aristeguieta, Audel, Bangoura

So that's what the hosts have gone for, now let's take a peek at the visitors.

NICE XI: Ospina, Amavi, Genevois, Kolodziejczak, Palun, Abriel, Bruins, Bruls, Digard, Mendy, Bosetti

Claude Puel, the boss, has also named a fairly strong team for this encounter.

Puel makes six alterations to the side that draw 0-0 at Rennes at the weekend, with David Ospina, Kevin Gomis, Gregoire Puel, Valentin Eysseric, Eric Bautheac and Dario Cvitanich all being taken out.

Luca Veronese, Jordan Amavi, Lloyd Palun, Fabrice Abriel, Luigi Bruins and Alexy Bosetti all get the nod tonight.

Now for the bench.

NICE BENCH: Ospina, Gomis, Puel, Rafetraniaina, Bautheac, Cvitanich, Maupay

So those are your two teams for the game. But only one of them can make it into the last four.

The two teams are out, and we're ready for kick off.

KICK OFF! This cup tie is underway, Nantes playing to the right and Nice shooting to the left.

CHANCE! First shot of the game falls early on to Nice, as Bruls skips down the left before pulling the ball back to Abriel on the edge of the D. He smashes an effort early, but it flies over the bar and is no trouble to Riou.

Nantes are in their famous all-yellow first strip with green trim, while Nice are sporting their home kit of red and black striped shirts.

Nantes have responded well as Palun is forced to concede a corner on the left.

It's whipped in by Veretout, but Nice can clear after the corner was too deep.

Apart from that early shot by Nice, it's Nantes who have started the stronger, enjoying more possession.

Palun chops down Bessat from behind, and Nantes have a free kick on the left.

It's not a brilliant delivery from Deaux, but it does enough to win a corner.

CHANCE! Nantes take their turn to fire a shot over the bar. The corner is nodded out to the edge of the box, where Bessat runs towards it and smashes a swerving shot over the bar.

Decent tempo to this game so far. The ball has mainly been inside the Nice half, although they are enjoying the momentum of possession currently.

Just to remind you of this tournament stage, and PSG have already booked their place in the last four after beating Bordeaux last night. Troyes are currently hosting Evian TG, while Lyon and Marseille clash later tonight.

YELLOW CARD: Vizcarrondo is the first man into the referee's notebook for bring down Bosetti from behind, who was running at goal.

Very good position for Nice here with this free kick; 25 yards out, slightly left of centre.

SAVE! Great effort from Bruls, who curls the ball over the wall and towards the bottom left corner. Riou flies across to his right to punch the effort away.

Another free kick for Nice now after a handball. It's almost in an identical position, just on the right side this time.

Breakthrough for Nice, and it's a thunderous effort from Digard. He slams a low shot under the wall and into the bottom far corner. Riou has no chance, and Nice take the lead.

So Nantes fall behind despite dominating possession so far. How will they respond? Well, they have a free kick on the right touchline at the moment.

Veretout curls it in from the right, but Nice can head it clear.

Nantes have had the ball pretty much the whole time since falling behind, but they haven't been able to break down Nice or test Veronese.

It remains goalless in the other match between Troyes and Evian.

Corner swung in by Bosetti from the left, but it evades all his Nice teammates in the box. Nantes are forced to put it behind though for another corner to the away team.

Worrying moment for Nantes as Riou and Vizcarrondo both go for the ball and miss it at the near post. Luckily for them, nobody follows it up for Nice, and the pressure is released when Bosetti handballs it outside the box.

It's a bit scrappy at the moment, with neither side able to get a hold of the ball. Nantes seem too eager to get on level terms, and then Nice just blow it on the counter.

We haven't had a shot on goal for a while, but Nantes are trying to work and opportunity. They're passing it around a fair bit, but Nice have a lot of men back.

Troyes, of Ligue 2, have just taken the lead against Evian in the other match.

Nantes have just their second effort on goal of the game as Bessat drills a half-volley from outside the box. Genevois bravely puts his face in front of the rocket and it pings off his head and away.

Not a lot of penalty area action to report on. Nantes continue to take the game to Nice, but cannot find a way through.

CHANCE! Vital block there by Trebel to keep Nice ahead. The cross from the right is nodded away by Nice, but only as far as Veretout. He smashes a low shot that is heading for the bottom corner, but it pings off the shin of Trebel and out for a corner.

Nantes are really pressing for an equaliser now.

SAVE! Nantes are denied again by a superb Veronese stop. Cichero rises highest and powerfully places his head towards the top right corner of the goal, but Veronese flings to his right pushes the ball away.

Despite a period towards the middle of the half without any real goalmouth action, this has been a pretty decent cup tie.

Despite Nantes being the better team, it's Nice who lead thanks to Digard's smashes free kick.

It the other quarter-final being played now, second-tier outfit Troyes lead Evian 2-0 at the break. They're the sole non-Ligue 1 side left in the Coupe de la Ligue at this stage.

Nantes are making their way back out onto the field. No sign of Nice yet.

Ah there they are, along with the officials. Game to get back underway shortly.

NANTES CHANGE: Johan Audel is coming on at the break, replacing Bessat.

KICK OFF! Nice, playing to the right, get the second half up and running.

Well I'm not sure what Der Zakarian said at the break, but it sure worked. Nantes are level thanks to wonderful play on the right by Gakpe. He beats his man before playing it to Veretout, who returns the pass with a backheel. Gakpe then blasts a shot at goal in a busy penalty area, and Djordjevic, who is stood with his back to goal, sticks a leg out and deflects it into the back of the net.

This game will go to extra time and penalties if needed. This tie has to be settled tonight.

What a turnaround at the Beaujoire, and Djordjevic has his second. It's almost identical to the first, but Gakpe's dangerous cross from the corner of the box is flicked by the foot of Djordjevic at full stretch, who guides the ball into the back of the net.

I wonder what Der Zakarian said at the interval because it's worked a treat. Nice are now being forced to come out and attack.

Nice float in a corner from the right, which Genevois gets his head to at the far post and nods it back across goal. But Nantes can hack away the danger.

Djordjevic is causing Nice all sorts of problems at the other end. He goes on the counter and wins a corner.

Not the best corner in the world, and Nice can hoof it away at the near post.

At the moment, it's looking as if Nantes are the team more likely to find another goal. They're flirting around the Nice box, but haven't test Veronese in recent times.

NICE CHANGE: Eric Bautheac has been sent on in attack for the away side, in place of Abriel.

Evian have got a goal back in the other game. They now trail Troyes 2-1.

SAVE! Riou keeps Nantes ahead after tipping a Bautheac looping free kick over the bar at full stretch.

Nice are back in it, and it's the centre back with the goal. A cross is lofted in from the right, and Kolodziejczak plants a header into the bottom corner from the centre of the box.

Nice have all the momentum at the moment, and Amavi is sent flying on the right of the box. Promising free-kick position for the visitors.

OFF THE BAR! What a topsy-turvy game this has been. Bruls takes the free kick right-footed and catches Riou by surprise. The bending effort bounces off the crossbar and back out. Let off for Nantes.

My god this is nuts. Nantes are now back in front thanks to another centre back. Trebel turns inside from the right touchline before sending the cross to the back post, and Vizcarrondo hammers a header beyond Veronese.

CHANGES: An alteration each for the teams. Nantes take off Trebel and bring on Bangoura, while Maupay has replaced Bosetti.

CLOSE! The officials behind the Nantes goal are forced to earn their pennies here, as Riou catches the ball but back-peddles over his own line. However, he just about manages to prevent the ball from crossing the line with him by keeping it at arms length.

NICE CHANGE: The away side are going for it now as top scorer Dario Cvitanich is brought on Christian Bruls.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man; Dario Cvitanich makes an instant impact. Maupay shoots from the edge of the box, but Riou makes the save. However, he can only parry it in front of him, straight into the path of Cvitanich, who taps it home.

What on earth is going on?! Nantes are now instantly back in front again. Serge Gakpe, who already has two assists to his name, comes inside from the right touchline before blasting a low shot into the bottom far corner and beyond Veronese.

Surely there can't be anymore goals? Can there?

CLOSE! Oh my days there nearly was another equaliser. Maupay is given the ball on the left edge of a crowded Nantes box, before driving an effort towards the bottom far corner. It takes a slight deflection off a Nantes defender and sails just wide. The corner is hacked away.

There will be three minutes of added time.

Nice are just bombarding the Nantes area with crosses, as they camp outside the area. Les Canaris are holding firm for now.

What. A. Game. That final 15 minutes was an absolute ruckus. It was 2-2 until the 77th minute, and it's finished 4-3.

But it's Nantes who progress to the semi-finals, where they will play either Paris Saint-Germain, Troyes or the winner of Lyon vs. Marseille.

Well that's all from me. I hope you enjoyed it. From me, it's goodbye.