Bruno Genesio experienced his first defeat as head coach of Lille OSC on March 19, 2026, as his team fell 3-1 to RC Strasbourg Alsace in the Coupe de France final at the Stade de France. The match, a historic occasion for Strasbourg, ended their 46-year wait for the trophy.
Strasbourg took control early, with striker Kévin Gameiro opening the scoring in the 23rd minute. Lille's Jonathan David equalized just before halftime, but second-half goals from Habib Diarra and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde secured the victory for Patrick Vieira's side.
The win marks Strasbourg's first Coupe de France title since 1979, a significant achievement for the club. For Lille and Genesio, who had been unbeaten in his first 12 matches in charge, the defeat is a setback in an otherwise strong start to his tenure.
The final was played in front of a capacity crowd, with the victory sparking major celebrations among Strasbourg supporters. The club now qualifies for the group stage of the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League.
