Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Le Havre and Saint-Etienne, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
In a Ligue 1 relegation six-pointer, Le Havre will welcome fellow strugglers Saint-Etienne to Stade Oceane on Sunday.
Le Club Doyen are at serious risk of demotion but have improved in recent weeks, while Les Verts have been in dire form ahead of this weekend.
Match preview
© Imago
Didier Digard‘s Le Havre went on a six-game losing streak between December and mid-January, though they have since drawn two, won two and lost three, showing significant development.
Most recently, Le Club Doyen pulled off a remarkable 4-3 win over ninth-placed Lens, and the fight that they showed to come from behind and secure all three points in stoppage time will give them confidence in the relegation battle.
That victory took Digard’s side to 16th in the table, where they are now just two points behind Reims, the first team safe from the drop.
That being said, they will be desperate to avoid defeat at the very least considering they are only one point ahead of their opponents, though with the hosts on a seven-match losing run at Stade Oceane, they will have to break a trend of defeats that goes back to November if they are to bolster their push for survival.
Victory on Sunday could take Le Havre four points clear of automatic relegation and out of the drop zone altogether depending on results elsewhere, and considering their improved form, it could inspire them to move towards mid-table in the near future.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Eirik Horneland‘s St Etienne have failed to win any of their eight fixtures leading up to this weekend’s clash, and with just one win across all competitions since November, they will be low on confidence.
Last time out, Les Verts were beaten 3-1 at their own ground by Nice, marking the fourth time in five matches that they have conceded three or more goals.
That defeat was undoubtedly a symptom of their consistently leaky defence, and it allowed Le Havre to leapfrog them in the table, dropping them into the automatic relegation spots with just 19 points to their name.
To make matters worse, the visitors are still waiting for their first away win of the campaign, and their record of 10 losses and just two draws from their 12 Ligue 1 matches on the road this season suggests that they are in danger of surrendering a crucial three points to their closest rivals.
On Sunday, an unlikely triumph could see St Etienne go level on points with Reims and two points clear of Le Havre, and may be a source of inspiration for the promoted side to maintain their top-flight status.
Le Havre Ligue 1 form:
Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form:
Team News
© Imago
Le Havre should have striker Andy Logbo back in contention after more than two months out with a shoulder injury, though Ahmed Hassan and Andre Ayew are likely to start up top as a duo this weekend.
In midfield, Daler Kuzyaev will miss out once again, so expect Mahamadou Diawara and Abdoulaye Toure to line up in the centre of the park.
Elsewhere, centre-back Arouna Sangante has reportedly been dealing with a muscle injury and may not be available, so anticipate a pairing of Etienne Youte Kinkoue and Gautier Lloris to feature in front of goalkeeper Mathieu Gorgelin.
As for St Etienne, centre-back Dylan Batubinsika is set to serve a suspension for accumulating yellow cards, so Horneland may turn to Maxime Bernauer and Mickael Nade at the heart of defence.
Striker Ibrahima Wadji could be ready to participate this weekend, but Lucas Stassin is more likely to start while Wadji builds fitness.
Otherwise, left-sided midfielder Benjamin Old continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury, though he might be back in action by the end of the month if all goes well.
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Gorgelin; Nego, Kinkoue, Lloris, Ballo-Toure; Casimir, Diawara, Toure, Soumare; Hassan, Ayew
Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Appiah, Bernauer, Nade, Petrot; Tardieu, Bouchouari; Cardona, Mouffek, Davitashvili; Stassin
We say: Le Havre 2-0 Saint-Etienne
Le Havre may only be in mixed form at the moment, but their results in 2025 have been significantly better than St Etienne’s, who have won just once in the last three months.
Additionally, even though Le Club Doyen are on an awful losing streak at home, the visitors have lost almost all of their away matches this term and are likely to taste defeat once again on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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