Coupe de France: Bastia vs Nice, a history of Mediterranean rivalry

The Mediterranean Derby returns this week in the Coupe de France as Bastia host OGC Nice at the Stade Armand Cesari, we take a look at the fiery history between the side from the Côte d'Azur and the Island of Corsica.

Only a few days after facing same-island rivals Ajaccio in Ligue 2 BKT, Sporting Club de Bastia will host OGC Nice in the Round of 32 of the Coupe de France this week. It's another heated fixture between two local rivals that dispute the 'Mediterranean Derby'. Benoît Tavenot's men won against Ajaccio 4-0 last weekend to continue their push into the top half of the Ligue 2 BKT table, but they will be quickly turning to Coupe de France action against Les Aiglons who ran out as 4-2 winners over Stade de Reims last weekend.

A derby or not a derby? The two cities of Nice and Bastia are separated by 209 km of sea. They say you can see the reflection of Corsica's high peaks from Nice, however they are the illusion of air masses that draw up a false silhouette. Yet you ask anyone of a Niçois and Bastia persuasion, and the rivalry between the two teams is weighted with time, geography, and politics.

The origins

The rivalry began to take shape in the 1960s and 1970s as Bastia established itself as a competitive force in French football. The Corsican club’s rise to prominence and their passionate supporters drew the attention of clubs like Nice, which was already a notable name in French football and in the South of France. Bastia's remarkable run to the UEFA Cup final in 1978 further heightened their profile on the European scene. Yet the social and geographical ingredients were also there.

The town of Nice at the time represented a hub of affluence and cosmopolitan culture on the French Riviera, and this identity clashed with that of Bastia's fervent Corsican identity, one that was fiercely independent from mainland France. There was not only a battle for supremacy on the pitch, but a political undertone brought to the fore off it. In 2014, Bastia goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca waved the Corsican flag on the Allianz Riviera pitch after winning the match against Nice. With Corsican national identity and pride at play, and Nice's ultra scene, it was the recipe for fireworks between supporters.

"When you wear a Gym shirt and head to Bastia, it's another level entirely," said former Nice man Arnaud Souquet in an interview with Les Aiglons' club website about the rivalry. This was ahead of the last time that Bastia and Nice faced off in official competition in 2017. With Bastia having had to climb up the lower leagues in recent times, only Cup competitions have given Il Turchini the chance to face their long-time rivals.

Tomorrow evening will see the two sides face-off once more, with a lot of local bragging rights at stake. Franck Haise and his men will have to be wary of what will be a hostile atmosphere awaiting them in Corsica at Stade Armand Cesari (kick-off 20:45 CET).

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