Clermont (home)
- Clermont have lost four of their last five competitive matches, their only victory coming via two late Diédhiou penalties at Boulogne.
- Clermont have had a much less successful campaign to date and currently sit 15th in the table on 25 points.
- They have a different style of football to Dunkerque, as Mazeyrat tends to set them up in a compact 4-2-3-1, but they do have some talented individual players.
- I. Fakili and A. Bamba have been key figures for Clermont this season, but the team’s attacking output remains patchy.
Dunkerque (away)
- Dunkerque have won two and drawn one of their last five league matches.
- Albert Sánchez, a young Spanish manager, has instilled a progressive, possession-based style of play at the club since his appointment, while his side have also found stability during his tenure.
- Dunkerque are sixth in Ligue 2, having collected 38 points from 24 matches so far this campaign.
- Antoine Sekongo, who scored a brace at Amiens, is the danger man for Les Marinistes, but all of their forwards are capable of finding the net.
- Dunkerque will play an active, possession-based game on Friday, as they operate either a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 formation, pressing high up the field to win the ball back in the opposition’s half.
Head-to-Head
Recent H2H record: Dunkerque have won twice in the last six meetings, Clermont have also won twice and there have been two draws .
Key Players
- Players to watch:
- Antoine Sekongo, who scored a brace at Amiens, is the danger man for Les Marinistes, but all of their forwards are capable of finding the net.
- I. Fakili and A. Bamba have been key figures for Clermont this season, but the team’s attacking output remains patchy.
- In Diédhiou, Mazeyrat has an outlet from deep and a player capable of scoring from the spot.
Prediction
- Dunkerque are expected to narrowly win Friday night’s Ligue 2 clash at Clermont, which could deal a significant blow to the hosts’ survival hopes.
- Dunkerque’s recent momentum and greater quality of players in the attacking third should see them edge out a close contest in front of a nervous Clermont crowd, although the cool and damp conditions at Stade Gabriel Montpied on Friday night could throw another curveball into this contest.
