Brest vs Dunkerque prediction: FRANCE: Coupe de France betting tips on match 2025-02-25 18:00.
[p]Brest have already broken new ground this season by making their debut in European football, and they now have more history in their sights as they attempt to reach the Coupe de France semi-finals for the first time. Victories over La Roche VF, Nantes and Troyes have provided a smooth passage to this stage, although the fact all three wins came by a single-goal margin suggests this could be a close-fought tie.[/p]
[p]The Pirates’ form in the cup is not mirrored by how they have performed in other competitions though. They were recently eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after a joint-club record 7-0 defeat to PSG, before a 0-0 draw against Strasbourg on Sunday stretched their winless run to four matches across all competitions (D2, L2), three of which saw them fail to score.[/p]
[p]The hosts will be expected to bounce back against second-tier Dunkerque, although the visitors should still make the long trip across the north coast of France full of confidence. They are unbeaten in seven away games (W5, D2), which is just as well because all of their Coupe de France ties this season have been away from home, including a penalty shootout victory over Lille in the last round, which was the second time the Seasiders have eliminated a top-flight side this season.[/p]
[p]That was the first of four successive victories across all competitions for ​​LuĂs Castro’s men, the most recent of which was a 3-0 win over Clermont which leaves them in third place in the second tier and well placed to reach Ligue 1 for the first time in their history. Focus is very much on the cup this week though, as Dunkerque are making their first quarter-final appearance in this competition since 1971, and attempting to reach the last four for only the second time.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Brest’s Abdallah Sima has netted first or last in five of his six goalscoring appearances this season, including two strikes in the last two rounds of the Coupe de France. Veteran Gaëtan Courtet might be Dunkerque’s main threat, and although he has netted twice across his last three personal H2Hs, only one of his six career H2Hs ended in victory (D3, L2).[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Just one of Dunkerque’s last 11 away games across all competitions has featured 3+ goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]