Our prediction for this Coupe de France match:
All eyes will be on Allianz Riviera when Nice and Monaco face each other in the Coupe de France last 32. Nice aim to build on back-to-back wins over Rennes and Nimes, and we are positive that they will stick to their attacking style of play. The good news for the hosts is that Kevin Dolberg has overcome his injury, but Danilo, Dante, Reine-Adelaide, and Rony Lopes are all likely to miss out.
Les Rouges et Blancs, on the other hand, aim to make amends for a 1-0 loss to Strasbourg. Monaco have slim chances of winning the Ligue 1 title, meaning that they will give 100% to go all the way in the French Cup. Given their attacking potential, both teams to score betting option should be considered. All Jovetic, Fabregas, Diop, and Diatta should be recalled to the starting XI, while Martins, Pellegri, and Geubbels are all out of contention through injuries.
Highlighted Player (Dante):
Dante is a left-footed defender who was born in Salvador, Brazil on 18 October, 1983. The 189-cm-tall centre back, who is capable of playing as a left back as well, started his senior career at Juventude. After making 53 appearances for the club between 2002 and 2004 he moved to Ligue 1 outfit Lille.
He played for Belgian sides Charleroi and Standard from 2006 to 2009 and on 27 December, 2008 he signed a contract with Borussia M’gladbach for an undisclosed fee. After impressing with the Fohlen in the 2011/2012 Bundesliga campaign he moved to Bayern Munich at the end of the season and it has to be noted that he scored three goals in 83 league appearances for FCB.
In 2015 he signed a contract with fellow Bundesliga team Wolfsburg and he played 24 league games for the Wolves in the 2015/2016 season. In 2013 he won the Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich and he lifted the FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil the same year.
Highlighted Team (Monaco):
Though based in Monaco, Les Rouges et Blances – as they are commonly referred to – play their games in the French football league system. Members of the top tier Ligue 1, Monaco play their home matches at the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille in front of 18,500 people. The Principality club boasts a turbulent history, which saw Monaco reach the highest heights of both domestic and international scene, but also get relegated to the amateur leagues at the very beginnings and to Ligue 2 in 2010-11 season.
The following year AS Monaco were acquired by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, whose heavy investments turned the Principality club into one of the biggest spenders in Europe in 2013 and reestablishing its place among Europe’s top clubs.
AS Monaco have had notable European results in the modern football era having been runners-up in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004. One of the most successful clubs in France AS Monaco have so far won seven league titles and five Coupe de France trophies.