Le Havre welcome Rennes to Stade Oceane for a mid-table clash in Ligue 1 at Sunday lunchtime this weekend.
On their return to the top flight after over a decade away, Le Havre are slowly but surely putting relegation fears to bed, while Rennes are threatening a late push for Europe.
Match preview
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After suffering relegation in their only other two top-flight seasons during the 21st century in 2002-03 and 2008-09, Le Havre look likely to survive following an impressive campaign so far.
Being marooned in mid-table is exactly what the Le Havre faithful would have hoped for heading into the season, as they currently sit 11th, eight points clear of trouble and another eight off the European places.
With it looking likely that they will not be playing for much on the league front in the latter stages of the season, it would have been a disappointment to crash out of the Coupe de France in midweek, as Luka Elsner's men went down 3-1 to Strasbourg.
That was also their first defeat in 2024, having gone five unbeaten since the turn of the year, a run which saw them win their first three games, including against Lyon in the league.
Back-to-back draws away to Lorient and Monaco were both respectable results, and another would not be frowned upon here, even though they have often had the upper hand in recent meetings against Rennes.
The two sides met three times in the 2008-09 season, with Le Havre winning twice and drawing the other, and it was another even affair earlier this season in the reverse, as Elsner saw his side come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 despite going down to 10 men.
Le Havre will have their work cut out to get another result here though, given the form Rennes bring into the fixture.
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After beating Clermont 3-1 shortly before Christmas, Rennes have gone on to win six in a row since the New Year - three in the league and three in the Coupe.
Wins over Guingamp and Marseille saw them reach the last 16 of the cup, where they mercilessly thrashed Sochaux 6-1 in midweek to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
Rennes' league wins have also been eye-catching, as not many sides had beaten Nice before their 2-0 success, while they also went to an improving Lyon and won 3-2, before edging past Montpellier HSC last weekend.
That has created renewed hope of a European push, as Julian Stephan's arrival as manager has had the desired effect, with the team now just four points shy of Lens in sixth.
Since replacing Bruno Genesio, Stephan has won nine of his 13 games in charge, and this fixture gives the club the opportunity to win three straight away league games for the first time in over four years.
Another win would also give them huge confidence before heading to San Siro in midweek to face AC Milan in the Europa League, but that cannot serve as a distraction ahead of this trip.
Team News
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Le Havre will be without Russian midfielder Daler Kuzyayev after he was sent off in the closing stages of their cup defeat to Strasbourg in midweek.
The side has also been weakened by the surprise departure of Nabil Alioui, who moved to Adana Demirspor on loan late in the window.
Alioui scored both goals in the reverse fixture, so manager Elsner will hope Andre Ayew can keep up his excellent recent form, which has seen him score three in three games.
Ayew has only recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, as Le Havre now have their full complement back from international duty, with Abdoulaye Toure and Mohamed Bayo also available.
Rennes are set to be without influential midfielder Enzo Le Fee after he was forced off inside five minutes of their thumping win over Sochaux in midweek.
Le Fee is likely to join Jeanuel Belocian (knee) and Fabian Rieder (foot) on the sidelines, with those two likely to miss another month's worth of action.
After selling Jeremy Doku and Lovro Majer in the summer, Rennes finally spent some of the money recouped from those transfers, as Azor Matusiwa and Alidu Seidu arrived late in the window.
Matusiwa was given his first start last week, and Seidu could follow suit this weekend after recently returning from Ghana duty at the AFCON.
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Sangante, Youte Kinkoue, Lloris, Operi; Ndiaye, Kechta; Casimir, Ayew, Joujou; Sabbi
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; G Doue, Seidu, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matusiwa, Santamaria, D Doue; Kalimuendo, Terrier
We say: Le Havre 1-2 Rennes
After only suffering their first defeat in six games on Wednesday, Le Havre should still be confident of giving an in-form Rennes side a difficult game this weekend.
However, seven wins on the spin means Rennes will come into the game as big favourites, and after hitting Sochaux for six in midweek, they are likely to keep that momentum going before facing Milan on Thursday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
