Clashes broke out at a French motorway toll on Saturday between fans of Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain on their way to the French Cup final in Lille.
The incidents occurred 60km from Lille where the final is being played because the Stade de France is being readied for the Olympics.
Two coaches were on fire, said a police source, but there were "no casualties for the moment."
In Lille, there was an impressive police presence as fans of the rival teams mingled all day ahead of the match which kicks off at 1900 GMT (21:00 local time).
The local authorities had put in place a number of administrative measures for the high-risk match.
Fans are forbidden to move "outside the areas reserved for them" near the stadium until 04:00 am local time on Sunday and authorities banned the public consumption of alcohol "in a glass or metal container" until the same time.