Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Coupe de France match.
The modest surroundings of Stade Marcel-Tribut, with a capacity of just under 5,000, will host French football’s biggest name as Paris Saint-Germain visit Ligue 2 side Dunkerque in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France.
Dunkerque
Dunkerque have been giant-killers on their way to the last four, eliminating three top-flight sides — Auxerre (1:0) in the round of 64, Lille (1:1, 5:4 on penalties) in the last 16, and Stade Brestois (4:2) in the quarters. Impressively, all of those triumphs came away from home, where they embraced their underdog status and sat deep. Now on their own turf, they’re unlikely to change a system that’s worked so well. However, their form in the league has dipped, with three consecutive defeats dropping them from third to fifth in Ligue 2. Even so, they remain in the play-off mix.
Paris Saint-Germain
As for Paris Saint-Germain, they missed a chance to seal the Ligue 1 title last weekend due to results elsewhere, though they more than delivered on their end — hammering Saint-Étienne (6:1) away. That win followed three more victories, including a crucial 1:0 at Anfield. PSG are a machine right now. No matter what starting line-up Luis Enrique names, they are expected to dominate.
Dunkerque vs Paris Saint-Germain Prediction
Dunkerque will resist as best they can, but PSG's relentless firepower should break them down with room to spare. Whether you back the handicap or team goals, the outcome points in one direction.
