Coupe de France | Quarter-Finals

Feb 26, 2025 at 6pm UK

Stade Francis-Le Ble

Brest vs Dunkerque

Match preview

Despite a favourable draw against National 2 side La Roche in the Round of 64, Brest made an unconvincing start to their Coupe de France campaign with a 1-0 win on 21 December.

Eric Roy's men then won their next two matches on 1 January and 4 February against Nantes and Troyes respectively, with Abdallah Sima scoring a late winner in the latter.

Brest's aforementioned win over Nantes was only the second time in 2025 that they have won back-to-back matches, but they have failed to win any of their subsequent four matches in all competitions.

In between humiliating 3-0 and 7-0 defeats at the hands of PSG in the Champions League play-offs, Les Pirates were held to a 2-2 draw by Auxerre before being held to a goalless draw away at Strasbourg on Sunday afternoon.

Already out of the Champions League and currently ninth in Ligue 1, Brest's best chance of securing European football next season may lie in the domestic French Cup, and they could be 180 minutes away from the grand finale.

However, Wednesday's hosts have not fared well in front of their fans of late, failing to win and conceding 13 goals in their last four matches since winning five straight home games at the turn of the year.

One of four non-Ligue 1 sides currently in the last eight of this year's Coupe de France, Dunkerque began their cup journey with wins over Bethune and Aubervilliers in the preliminary round before knocking out Auxerre in the last 64.

Luis Castro's men saw off Haguenau in the next round before pulling off perhaps the biggest shock of the tournament when they overcame Lille on penalties in the last 16 earlier this month.

The Maritimes, who had suffered a narrow defeat at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, drew level in second-half stoppage time through Kay Tejan before goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen held his nerve to convert the winning spot-kick from 12 yards.

The win over Lille was the first of a four-game winning streak for Dunkerque, who are knocking on the door of automatic promotion to the French top flight as they currently sit third in Ligue 2.

Now, with the chance to equal their best ever result at this level, achieved in 1920, Wednesday's visitors will have every reason to believe they can get the job done away from home, where they are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games.

Recent Performance

Brest Coupe de France form:WWW

Brest form (all competitions):WWLDLD

Dunkerque Coupe de France form:WWWWW

Dunkerque form (all competitions):WLWWWW

Team News

Brest's Jordan Amavi is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against Olympique Lyon in early January.

Fellow Frenchmen Romain Del Castillo and Bradley Locko are out with knee and Achilles injuries respectively, although the latter is relatively close to a return to action.

Striker Ibrahim Salah is set to miss a third successive game with a foot injury that forced him off in the first half against Auxerre two weeks ago.

Marco Essimi and Nehemiah Fernandez are both out with muscle injuries, while Nurio Fortuna is out with a thigh problem.

The away side will also be without the services of Allan Linguet, with the 25-year-old joined on the sidelines by Diogo Queiros.

Possible starting lineup

Brest possible starting lineup:

Bizot; Haidara, Coulibaly, Chardonnet, Lala; Lees-Melou, Camara; Magnetti, Doumbia, Pereira; Balde

Dunkerque possible starting lineup:

Ortola; Georgen, Sangante, Sasso, Abner; Raghouber; Yassine, Bardeli, Skytta, Al Saad; Courtet