Lorient vs Paris FC Prediction 04.02.2026 | Coupe de France

Lorient head into their Round of 16 showdown riding the wave of an impressive revival since returning to the top flight, currently sitting comfortably in the upper half of the Ligue 1 standings with 28 points from 20 matchweeks, just three points shy of the European places.

Les Merlus have built their success this season on a rock-solid defensive foundation, a fact underlined by conceding just three goals across their last six Ligue 1 outings. That resilience has also fuelled a four-game winning streak, which they extended with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nantes at the weekend.

That winning run was set in motion against lower-league opposition in the Coupe de France, where Lorient claimed a 3-1 away win over Hauts Lyonnais to book their place in the last 16. Now, they will look to lean on their outstanding home form, carrying an eight-match unbeaten run on their own turf as they chase a spot in the quarter-finals.

However, head coach Olivier Pantaloni will have to manage without several sidelined players, as Abdoulaye Faye, Darlin Yongwa, Panos Katseris, and 27-year-old centre-forward Aiyegun Tosin are all unavailable due to injury.

Meanwhile, Paris FC are experiencing their first season back on the grand stage after a 46-year absence, and they are determined to prove they belong among France’s elite. However, while their seven-point cushion over the relegation zone offers some breathing room, it is far from a guarantee of safety.

Stephane Gilli’s men travel to Brittany on the back of a monumental shock in the previous round of this competition, famously dumped out cross-city rivals Paris Saint-Germain with a disciplined 1-0 victory, sealed by Jonathan Ikone’s decisive strike.

Since that unforgettable night, Paris FC have continued to build momentum in Ligue 1, recording one win and two draws, with their most eye-catching result arriving at the weekend when they produced a stubborn, fearless display to hold Marseille to a thrilling 2-2 draw.

However, PFC head into this high-stakes tie without several influential figures, as key names such as Samir Chergui, Pierre Lees-Melou, and Pierre-Yves Hamel remain sidelined through injury.