 The French strategy
The French strategy was to disembark at Bastia, follow the current course of Route N193 (built over the old road) up the Golo River valley and over the passes to Corte, seizing the strategic center of Paoli's political power.The Corsican strategy
The Corsican strategy was to block the passage at Ponte Novu, a choke point where the road had to cross the river on the bridge.To do this Paoli stationed substantial forces on either side of the bridge.