Bastiavs.Nice

Although the Ligue 2 outfit have been in fine goalscoring form in 2025, their top-flight opponents have similarly been potent in the attacking third, pointing to a mouthwatering cup tie in Corsica.

Match preview

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

Their only failure to progress to that stage was last season, when the Blues were stunned 4-1 by Lyon La Duchere in the third round of the competition.

Having already surpassed that result, the 1981 champions aim to outscore their Ligue 1 opponents in Tuesday's encounter, and are keen to extend their three-match undefeated run against the Eaglets (one win) to four matches.

Despite sitting a middling eighth in Ligue 2, Benoit Tavenot's side have shown their goalscoring prowess since the back end of 2024, scoring eight goals across two games to close out last year before finding the back of the net six times in 2025, losing 3-2 at Grenoble on January 3 and hitting four without reply to dispatch Ajaccio eight days later.

The Lions of Furiani head into Tuesday's match having kept three clean sheets in the competition, beating Freyming 4-0 in their tournament opener, eliminating Nancy 2-0 and dismantling RC Saint Joseph in December, but Nice will present significantly tougher opposition.

The Eaglets enter their round of 32 fixture in decent form, even if Franck Haise's side have needed to outscore opponents in 2025.

Nice are one of four Ligue 1 sides to retain a 100% record since the turn of the new year — jointly with Marseille, Strasbourg and Angers — although Le Gym have conceded two goals apiece in their 3-2 victory over Rennes and 4-2 triumph at Reims.

That soft underbelly undoubtedly gives opponents hope regardless of the score, and Bastia will be hoping that the visiting club's creaky rearguard does not anomalously become watertight on Tuesday.

Given that the Eaglets needed penalties against fifth-tier Corte to progress through the previous round, the travelling support will be wary of coming unstuck in Corsica.

The 2022 finalists' run to that title match against Nantes remains an abnormality in their Coupe de France performances, as evidenced by last season's quarter-final run being the only time apart from 2021-22 in which Nice have experienced a deep run in the domestic cup since making the semis in 2011.

Haise's imperfect side are flawed defensively, possibly filling fans with dread, but exciting neutral supporters who fancy cup entertainment in Bastia.

Bastia Coupe de France form:

W

W

W

Bastia form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

L

W

Nice Coupe de France form:

W

Nice form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

W

W

Team News

Tavenot's men sustained no injuries in their recent 4-0 Ligue 2 success over Ajaccio, giving Les Blues a healthy squad for the visit of Nice.

Having contributed to a glut of goals en route to Tuesday's round of 32, Amine Boutrah (three goals), Lamine Cisse (two), Lisandru Tramoni (two) and Felix Tomi (two) aim to produce strong showings to stun their top-flight opponents.

While Nice came through Saturday's win at Reims unscathed, the away side are 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 making a goalscoring return against Reims following almost two months out; however, Yael Nandjou is suspended due to his 39th-minute dismissal in the previous round.

Evann Guessand (eight goals) and Gaetan Laborde (six) sit atop the Eaglets' scoring charts, and the forwards aim to be productive for Haise's men on Tuesday.

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

We say: Bastia 1-3 Nice

Although a cup tie, Bastia and Nice's recent matches have produced goals, and Tuesday's should be no different.

Written by

Anthony Brown

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