Le Havre face Strasbourg at the Stade Oceane on Saturday afternoon in Ligue 1, a game between two sides who are battling against relegation with just three fixtures remaining in the season.
The visitors are in much better standings than the hosts as they hold a seven-point gap over the bottom three, while the home side are only above the dotted line on goal difference.
Match preview
© Reuters
Le Havre were promoted back into the French top division for the first time since being relegated in 2008-09 ahead of this season, and they have struggled to adapt to life in Ligue 1.
After battling it out with Metz for the Ligue 2 title last year the Dean Club once again find themselves grappling with the Maroons, but this time fighting for their survival in the league.
Luka Elsner's side have won just six of their 31 games in Ligue 1, the second-fewest of any team in the division, leaving their 11 draws, the joint highest, as their saving grace at this point in the season.
The hosts come into this fixture having failed to win any of their last six matches, suffering crushing defeats to relegation rivals Clermont Foot, Nantes and Metz in that time.
Those results left Le Havre in the relegation zone ahead of their previous outing against Paris Saint-Germain, who had sights on clutching the league title with a victory against the Dean Club.
Luka Elsner's men unbelievably went into the final 15 minutes of normal time leading 3-1, en route to securing a phenomenal three points, but PSG pulled one back in the 78th minute through Achraf Hakimi before a 95th-minute equaliser from Goncalo Ramos broke Le Havre hearts.
A point was still more than the Dean Club would have ever expected prior to the match and moved them back out of the relegation zone thanks to their superior goal difference to Metz, leaving the two level on points with three games remaining.
© Reuters
Strasbourg serves as Le Havre's most likely source of points in their final fixtures, with the remaining two pitting them up against fifth-placed Nice and seventh-placed Marseille.
Le Racing's run of three wins and a draw in four successive matches during March saw them put crucial distance between themselves and the drop zone, but back-to-back losses in their last two has meant the possibility of relegation still looms over them.
A win or draw against the hosts would be enough to ensure their survival, putting them at least seven points clear with two games to follow, while another loss would make for a nail-biting finale to the season.
Patrick Vieira's team have been victorious in both the meetings between these two this term, winning 2-1 in the league and 3-1 in the Coupe de France, giving them plenty of confidence ahead of this one.
The focus will once again be on Emanuel Emegha, who tops Strasbourg's scoring charts coming into this one, with the 21-year-old having netted in both of the meetings earlier this campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
The hosts will be without up to three players due to suspension and injury for this potentially crucial match in their survival hopes.
Andy Logbo has been unavailable since suffering an injury in the 0-0 draw with Nantes at the end of November.
Arouna Sangante and Loic Nego will also be missing from the squad as the two are set to serve their respective suspensions.
As for the visitors, they will be without four of their own as they attempt to secure their safety in the division.
Angelo Gabriel is set to miss the remainder of the season through a groin injury, while Karol Fila, Lebo Mothiba and Steven Baseya are also out due to injuries.
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; El Hajjam, Salmier, Kinkoue, Lloris, Operi; Casimir, Targhalline, Toure, Sabbi; Ayew
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellarouch; Guilbert, Perrin, Sylla; Senaya, Santos, Diarra, Delaine; Bakwa, Sahi; Emegha
We say: Le Havre 2-2 Strasbourg
While Le Havre's draw with PSG came about in heart-breaking circumstances, conceding so late on in the match, it will serve as a confidence booster to take a point from the champions, and we believe that will help them secure a point in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
