Epinal vs St-Pryvé St-Hilaire Prediction at 17-01-2026

Team Breakdown: Epinal

Epinal has shown commendable resilience in recent matches, garnering a mixed record of 2 wins, 2 losses, and a shootout loss in their last five games. Their recent performance against Lorient, where they showcased attacking flair with a solid 5-2 victory, strengthened their confidence. The team shines with its core players such as Thomas Vauclair, who leads the attack with a remarkable goal tally and playmaking abilities, making him a crucial asset. However, inconsistency in defense has been a weakness, as evident in their 4-3 loss against Rouen where defensive lapses led to crucial goals against them.

Team Breakdown: Caen

Conversely, Caen enters this match with solid momentum, posting a record of 3 wins and 2 losses in their last five outings. Their standout performance was a nail-biting 6-5 victory against Chamonix that emphasized their offensive strengths. The combination of Mathieu Perret, a dominant forward, and Julien Boucher, a shrewd defender, offers a balanced approach to both scoring and maintaining defensive structure. Nevertheless, Caen's struggles on the road could be their Achilles heel, having lost 5 of their last 7 away games due to a lack of cohesion in unfamiliar environments.

Statistical Insights

• Head-to-Head Record: In their last 10 encounters, Caen has won 6, while Epinal has 4 wins, indicating a competitive edge for Caen historically.
• Current Standings Indicators: Epinal ranked 7th with 36 points while Caen is positioned just above them in 5th with 42 points, pushing both teams towards necessity in earning points.
• Goals Scored/Conceded: Epinal has an average of 3.1 goals per game while conceding 3.2, revealing vulnerabilities in defense. Caen’s record is marginally better, scoring 3.4 and conceding 2.9 per game.

Contextual Factors

This match will take place at Epinal’s home turf where they have a commendable fan base, creating an electrifying atmosphere that often acts as the 7th player. Additionally, expected temperatures around 0°C could influence gameplay, potentially favoring the home team familiar with such conditions. On the injury front, news suggests that Epinal may be without their key forward Jérôme Martin, which could impact their offensive threat significantly. In contrast, Caen appears to have a full-strength squad.