Caen II vs Bastia II - National 3 - Group D

A fascinating National 3 - Group D chapter awaits on May 16, 2026 when Caen II take on Bastia II at Terrain Annexe 3 du Venoix — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

Both camps will view the National 3 - Group D meeting at Terrain Annexe 3 du Venoix as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. He was sacked by Fiorentina after Che Adams' late goal for Torino left them bottom of the Serie A table with three defeats out of three.

How the two sides approach the contest strategically will be key. Caen II will want to control proceedings in front of their own supporters, while Bastia II will back themselves to cause problems on the break. The Germany club were said to be looking for an out-and-out striker to allow Harry Kane to play a deeper role, and made an approach for Sesko in 2024.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Brentford's priority this summer has been to sign a new central midfielder - and they completed a club-record deal for Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare on August 1.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With positions in the National 3 - Group D table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.