Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Coupe de France match.
Paris Saint-Germain’s unstoppable attack will treat this Tuesday fixture as little more than a warm-up against Le Mans, who were fortunate with the draw en route to the last 16. A dominant Parisian victory is widely anticipated, with Matvei Safonov expected to start in goal and Luis Enrique likely to mix in some promising academy talents.
Le Mans
Despite an ongoing nine-match unbeaten streak, Le Mans remain a third-tier side. Their 1/16 final win over Valenciennes (2:1 on penalties) was far from convincing, as they allowed 1.72 xGA in 90 minutes. Their defensive setup, a deep-lying 5-3-2, is unlikely to pose any real problems for Paris Saint-Germain’s fluid attack.
Paris Saint-Germain
Since 10 December, Paris Saint-Germain have won 11 of their last 12 matches across all competitions, scoring fewer than two goals in just three of them. Their form reached new heights in late January, producing a combined 5.22 xG against Manchester City (4:2) and Stuttgart (4:1) in the Champions League. On Saturday, they thrashed Stade Brestois (5:2), with Luis Enrique even comfortably substituting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 58th minute. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé netted his second hat-trick in a week—taking his tally to 11 goals in six matches this year.
Le Mans vs Paris Saint-Germain Prediction
Le Mans’ fairytale run in the cup will come to an end in emphatic fashion. Paris Saint-Germain will be eager to maintain their winning rhythm and should race into a 3 or 4 goal lead by half-time.
