[1][2] Paris Saint-Germain were the defending champions of the competition and it was the third time in the club's history that it had appeared in back-to-back finals.

The club was the competition's defending champions having defeated Monaco 1–0 courtesy of an extra time goal from Guillaume Hoarau in the 2010 final.

[6][7] The second occurrence transpired in 2003–2004 when Les Parisiens lost to Auxerre 2–1 before rebounding the following year defeating second division club Châteauroux 1–0.

The club's last Coupe de France title came in the 1955 final when it defeated Bordeaux 5–2 at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes.

Jean Vincent scored the opener and Yvon Douis and Gérard Bourbotte netted two each to give Lille its last major domestic honour.

On 29 April, the French Football Federation announced that referee Clément Turpin of Bourgogne would officiate the 2011 Coupe de France final.

[16] Unlike Lille, who opened up the competition against amateur opposition, Paris Saint-Germain faced fellow Ligue 1 outfit Lens at the Parc des Princes.

Goals by Zoumana Camara, Nenê, Péguy Luyindula and Guillaume Hoarau, the latter netting two, was enough to allow Paris Saint-Germain progression to the Round of 32.

[20] Agen officials balked at the idea stating the club's stadium had met all the guidelines and requirements of the federation.

Similar to the Agen match, PSG were tested after Stéphane Biakolo drew the match at 1–1 just before half-time after Hoarau had opened the scoring early in the first half, however, in the second half, the away side were able to maintain its composure en route to a 4–1 victory with Hoarau scoring two goals, completing his hat trick, and Luyindula adding another.

[23] In the quarterfinals, PSG faced Le Mans and endured a dull match with the only highlights of normal time being red cards shown to Camara and opposition defender Mamadou Wague.

The match, subsequently, went to extra time scoreless and Paris Saint-Germain were, remarkably, rescued by two of the club's academy players.

In the match, Lille recorded a 1–0 victory over their rivals thanks to a first half goal from the Brazilian Túlio de Melo.

After two conversions each from both sides, Nantes midfielder Ronny Rodelin's shot was saved by goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau to allow Lille progression to the next round.

Towards the end of the half, Lille were finally rewarding courtesy of an Hazard goal following a successful link up between the winger and midfielder Obraniak.

With Les Parisiens, he spent six years with the club appearing in over 230 matches winning two Coupe de France titles in 1993 and 1995.