Coupe de France | Round of 32

Jan 14, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stade Armand-Cesari

Bastia vs Nice

Match preview

After consecutive first-round exits from the Coupe de France in 2019-20 and 2020-21, Bastia have reached the last 32 three times in their last four attempts, reaching the quarter-finals in 2021-22 before losing to Nantes.

Their only failure to reach this stage came last season, when they were thrashed 4-1 by Lyon La Duchere in the third round of the competition.

Having already surpassed that record, the 1981 champions will be looking to get the better of their Ligue 1 counterparts on Tuesday and extend their unbeaten run against the Eaglets (one win) to four games.

Despite sitting in mid-table eighth in Ligue 2, Benoit Tavenot's side have shown their goalscoring prowess since the end of 2024, scoring eight goals in two games to end last year, before finding the net six times in 2025, losing 3-2 at Grenoble on 3 January and scoring four unanswered goals to eliminate Ajaccio eight days later.

The Lions of Furiani go into Tuesday's game having kept three clean sheets in the competition, beating Freyming 4-0 in their opening game, dispatching Nancy 2-0 and demolishing RC Saint Joseph in December, but Nice will be a much tougher proposition.

The Eaglets are in good form heading into the Round of 32, although Franck Haise's side will need to outscore their opponents in 2025.

Nice are one of four Ligue 1 sides - along with Marseille, Strasbourg and Angers - to have a 100% record since the turn of the year, although Le Gym have conceded twice in their 3-2 win over Rennes and 4-2 triumph at Reims.

That soft underbelly will undoubtedly give their opponents cause for optimism, regardless of the scoreline, and Bastia will be hoping that the visitors' creaky rearguard does not anomalously become watertight on Tuesday.

Given that the Eaglets needed a penalty shootout against fifth-tier Corte to progress in the previous round, the travelling support will be wary of a repeat performance in Corsica.

The 2022 finalists' run to the final against Nantes remains an anomaly in their Coupe de France record, with last season's quarter-final the only time Nice have made a deep run in the domestic competition since reaching the semi-finals in 2011.

Haise's imperfect side are defensively fragile, which may frighten the fans, but should excite neutral supporters looking for some cup entertainment in Bastia.

Recent Performance

Bastia Coupe de France form:WWW

Bastia form (all competitions):DDWWLW

Nice Coupe de France form:W

Nice form (all competitions):WLDWWW

Team News

Tavenot's men were unscathed in their recent 4-0 Ligue 2 win over Ajaccio, giving Les Blues a healthy squad for the visit of Nice.

Amine Boutrah (three goals), Lamine Cisse (two goals), Lisandru Tramoni (two goals) and Felix Tomi (two goals) have all contributed to the goal spree en route to Tuesday's last-32 clash, and they will be hoping to surprise their opponents.

While Nice came through Saturday's win at Reims unscathed, the away side will be without Jeremie Boga (thigh), Moise Bombito (groin), Morgan Sanson (ankle), Victor Orakpo (hernia) and Terem Moffi (knee).

Ali Abdi could start at left-back after scoring against Reims following a near two-month absence, but Yael Nandjou is suspended for his 39th-minute dismissal last time out.

Evann Guessand (eight goals) and Gaetan Laborde (six) top the Eaglets' scoring charts, and the strikers will be keen to get on the scoresheet for Haise's men on Tuesday.

Possible starting lineup

Bastia possible starting lineup:

Fabri; Meynadier, Guidi, Roncaglia, Ariss; Ducrocq, Janneh; Tramoni, Vincent, Boutrah; Cisse

Nice possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Clauss, Ndayishimiye, Dante, Bard; Boudaoui, Ndombele; Guessand, Bouanani, Diop; Laborde