Lorient vs Nice – News and Probable Lineups

Lorient is set to make their first appearance in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de França in a decade, facing Nice at Stade du Moustoir in Brittany on Wednesday.

Their journey to the last eight was secured with a 2-0 victory over Paris FC in early February, while Nice pulled off an impressive 3-2 comeback win against Montpellier.

Match overview

Lorient’s campaign in the Coupe de França has been largely smooth, with the newly promoted team winning their three matches thus far by an aggregate of 12-1.

A win on Wednesday would see them return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2016 when they were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the final four (1-0).

Under the guidance of Olivier Pantaloni, Lorient has remained unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions at Stade du Moustoir, with no home defeats this year.

Throughout this century, Lorient has progressed from three of their five appearances in the last eight, having defeated Ajaccio 3-0 in their only previous quarter-final home match in the 2000s.

Four of their last five goals in this season’s tournament were scored in the second half, and they have not conceded in the final 45 minutes.

Lorient has gone unbeaten in four of their last five home encounters against Nice, including a 3-1 win last November in Ligue 1.

Throughout the current Coupe de França season, Nice has often faced tough challenges but has managed to overcome them consistently.

This stands in stark contrast to their domestic and European performances during the 2025-26 season, where they lost seven out of eight Europa League matches in the League Phase and won just one of their last 14 Ligue 1 matches (4-1 against Marseille).

In the competition’s last 16-round, Claude Puel’s team rallied late, scoring three times in less than 20 minutes to overturn a 2-0 deficit, with the winning goal scored in the 98th minute.

This week marks an opportunity for them to reach the semi-finals for the second time in this decade, having triumphed in six of their last seven quarter-final appearances in the Coupe de França.

Nice is currently on a three-match winless streak on the road in competitive games, failing to find the back of the net in any of those matches, although their only win against a Ligue 1 opponent this year was a 4-1 victory against Nantes away in January.

This season, they have only defeated a top-tier team from Brittany once, having beaten Rennes 2-1 at Roazhon Park last October.

Team News

Lorient may have to deal with potential absences in their upcoming quarter-final match, with Isaak Toure and Kan Guy Arsene Kouassi both doubtful due to injuries.

Noah Cadiou scored the decisive goal for Lorient in their last match of the round of 16, with Moustapha Mbow adding an insurance goal later on due to an own goal from a Montpellier player.

It is anticipated that Isak Jansson will also be sidelined for Nice on Wednesday due to a knee injury, while Sofiane Diop faces suspension.

Kail Boudache, Antoine Mendy, and Diop all found the back of the net late in their last 16 fixture against Montpellier, the latter scoring in the dying moments, which allowed Nice to overcome the two goals from the Ligue 2 side, including one that was an own goal by Kojo Peprah Oppong.

Lorient probable starting XI:

Mvogo; Silver, Talby, Fire; Le Bris, Karim, Cadiou, Avom; Countries, Makengo; Dieng

Nice probable starting XI:

Dupe; Clauss, Oppong, Dante, Abdi; Samson, Vanhoutte; Cho, Boudache, Black; Charles

Lorient has continually found ways to secure victories throughout this campaign, and it is thought that their momentum and confidence could greatly benefit them against a Nice side that has struggled in crucial situations this season.