The Coupe de France is often difficult for the bigger clubs to win, as a higher-ranked club always plays as the away side when drawn against lower-league opposition. The ties are played over one leg and played to a finish (i.e. no replays), increasing the chance of an upset if the 'lower' team plays to their best on the day. In recent seasons, several finalists (though never the winners) have won through whilst playing in Ligue 2 or even lower in the league system, indicating the strength in depth of the French football system and demonstrating the unpredictable nature of the competition. The frequent triumphs of smaller clubs over large also suggests that the cup is not the top priority for the Ligue 1 clubs, although the Coupe de France is considered more important than some other equivalent competitions in European countries such as Germany and Italy.