Looking to bounce back following another loss last time out, Le Havre will welcome Montpellier HSC to Stade Oceane on Sunday afternoon for a Ligue 1 clash.
Les Ciel et Marine were defeated narrowly on the road last weekend, whilst La Paillade suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Toulouse on home soil.
Match preview
![Head coach Didier Digard of Le Havre AC gestures during the pre-season friendly match between AZ and Le Havre AC at AFAS Stadion on July 31, 2024 [on August 14, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/33/didier-digard.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Head coach Didier Digard of Le Havre AC gestures during the pre-season friendly match between AZ and Le Havre AC at AFAS Stadion on July 31, 2024 [on August 14, 2024]")
© Imago
After a respectable 15th-placed finish at the top table of French football on their return in the 2023-24 campaign, Le Havre are on a mission to further cement their status as a first-tier club, but that quest has started off extremely slowly at the beginning of the current campaign.
Les Ciel et Marine extended their losing run in the 18-team division to a worrying six matches last Friday night, when Rennes were the hosts at Roazhon Park and snatched all three points courtesy of a second-half strike from Andres Gomez.
Failing to collect any points in two months, Le Havre are currently occupying 17th place in the Ligue 1 standings, two points above Sunday's opponents Montpellier in last place and three points back from Toulouse in the relative safety of 15th.
Looking for positives ahead of this weekend's battle, Les Ciel et Marine's most recent victory in the top flight arrived in front of their home supporters on September 1, when a second-half goal from Rassoul Ndiaye rallied the hosts to a 3-1 success over fellow strugglers Auxerre.
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Since collecting maximum points from a five-goal thriller versus the aforementioned Auxerre on September 22, Montpellier have endured a four-game losing run at the top table of French football, ruining their chances of escaping the relegation zone before the start of November.
La Paillade have been simply woeful in front of their own supporters since returning from October's international break, suffering a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Marseille on October 20 before being hit for three by fellow strugglers Toulouse on home soil last Sunday.
All the damage on Benjamin Lecomte's net was inflicted in the first period last time out, with a brace from Zakaria Aboukhlal and an effort from ex-Bournemouth marksman Joshua King winning the day for Les Violets.
Approaching the harsh winter months, La Paillade are currently sitting rock bottom of the Ligue 1 table with just four points from nine top-flight contests, already five points behind 15th and 10 points behind the Conference League spot.
Team News
© Imago
Le Havre remain without the services of Andy Logbo, who is still recovering from a serious cruciate ligament injury sustained in January.
Until his return in late November, Les Ciel et Marine will be short of options in attacking areas, meaning that Andre Ayew will continue to lead the line.
Hoping for a return to action earlier in the month, Josue Casimir should provide some flair to the right flank for the hosts following his recovery from a knee issue.
Seeing red during the five-goal thumping at the hands of Marseille, 19-year-old Stefan Dzodic is still suspended for Montpellier as the campaign heads into November.
It appears that La Paillade have a squad-wide disciplinary problem, with Teji Savanier receiving his marching orders during the second half against Toulouse last time out.
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Salmier, Kinkoue, Lloris; Toure, Pembele, Kechta, Targhalline, Nego; Ayew, Housni
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Sagnan, Mouanga, Sylla; Ferri, Nzingoula; Nordin, Al-Taamari, Khazri; Adams
We say: Le Havre 1-0 Montpellier HSC
After a narrow defeat at the home of Rennes last time out, Le Havre should be confident of picking up a positive result on home turf against Ligue 1's bottom club.
Montpellier have been terrible since returning from the last international break, and we expect that downwards trend to continue for the visitors to Stade Oceane this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
