Canaries on song in Coupe de la France

22Jan 2013

Jonno Turner picks two selections from France and Italy in order to build on a successful first day of the week yesterday.

We were but a whisker away from two winners yesterday, with Burkina Faso's injury time equaliser in the African Cup of Nations snatching glory from underneath our noses following a Levadiakos win.

But let's not allow it to get us down: I'm reminded of my great grandad in this situation. He had the heart of a lion, the eye of a tiger, and a lifetime ban from Chester Zoo.

Two more selections today, and we're off to France for our first - as Nantes travel to Epinal in the Coupe de France, looking to secure their ninth consecutive game unbeaten away from Le Beaujoire-Louis Fonteneau.

Les Canaris have been in impressive form on the road, and have kept an incredible eight clean sheets in those nine clashes, which will give them much confidence as they travel to National Division side Epinal this evening.

Away boss Michel Der Zakarian will be desperate for his charges to move into the next round of this competition, which the famous Pays de la Loire club has won three times.

Hosts Epinal line up at Stade de la Colombiere having failed to win in their last nine home ties, and boss Fabien Tissot will be keen to arrest that slide here.

A whopping 13 goals shipped in their last five in front of their own fans suggests that they are likely to present their higher league opponents with a chance or two this evening, and that could have a major bearing on the outcome of this game.

A penalties win over Lyon in the last round secured Epinal this money spinning tie - and with Tissot's side sitting deep in the relegation zone, just one place off the bottom, they have other priorities this season - so it wouldn't necessarily be a disaster if they were to exit the competition at this stage.

Bet 1: Nantes (AWAY) @ 1.92

Over to Italy now, as Varese host Brescia in Serie B, aiming to build on the 4-0 thrashing of Grosseto last time out on their own patch.

Home boss Fabrizio Castori will be delighted with the performances of his side lately, and they go into this one having lost just two of their last 12 clashes.

That leaves the Stadio Franco Ossola side sitting fourth in the second tier, and four straight wins and clean sheets in front of their own fans shows just how dominant the Leopardi have been lately.

Brescia go into this one having failed to win 13 of their last 15, and Alessandro Calori will be looking for his side to put that right here.

The Lombardy side have not kept a clean sheet since May, and that will suggests that the visitors may struggle to secure any points here.

Whilst their form at home has been positive, that miserable run away from the Stadio Mario Rigamonti will have knocked confidence in the Rondinelle camp - and threatens to derail their campaign.

Bet 2: Varese (HOME) @ 2.28