For the first time in over 15 years, Le Havre will face Lille in a Ligue 1 away contest, with this encounter taking place on Saturday at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Les Dogues are clinging to fifth place following a 3-1 loss at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), while the Normandy side are in 11th after suffering a 1-0 defeat versus Rennes.
Match preview
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Lille got the start they wanted last weekend, but unfortunately, their sixth-minute strike was as good as it would get, giving up two goals in quick succession and failing to create much in the attack after that.
As a result, they have lost their last two matches in all competitions, which is as many as in their previous 26 competitive fixtures.
They have now dropped 12 points in Ligue 1 this season when netting the opening goal, with Toulouse the only side in Ligue 1 dropping more over this campaign (15).
Those dozen points could have put them within striking distance of the league leaders PSG, but instead, Paulo Fonseca's men are holding onto the final place in Europe next season thanks to a superior goal difference to Lens.
While they have been in a minor slump lately, Les Nordistes will fancy their chances to get back on track at home, unbeaten in 10 consecutive matches at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in all competitions, winning their three games played there in 2024 by a combined score of 19-0.
They have been among the top defensive units domestically over this campaign, conceding the second-fewest goals in the league so far (17), including seven clean sheets at home in this competition.
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Last Sunday, another poor second-half performance by Le Havre moved them to the bottom half of the table as they currently sit at 24 points.
Five of the last six goals that they have conceded in this competition occurred in the final 45 minutes of play as they continue to slide down the table.
Luka Elsner has seen his side go into the interval even or ahead in all four of their domestic encounters this year, but they have only triumphed in one of those outings (3-1 over Lyon).
Le Club Doyen are currently on a three-match winless run in this competition, one fewer than their longest streak without a domestic triumph this season.
Entering this contest, Le Havre are winless in five successive away matches in the top flight, claiming just one domestic victory as the visiting team in 2023-24 (2-1 over Toulouse).
They have lost four successive encounters versus Lille in the French top flight and have not beaten them away from home since September 1951, when Les Dogues played at Stade Henri-Jooris (3-1).
Team News
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Bafode Diakite is dealing with a sore shoulder for Lille, while Ivan Cavaleiro has a groin injury, and neither are expected to see the field on Saturday.
Samuel Umtiti continues to recover from a knee injury, and Andrej Ilic will be sidelined for the long-term because of a broken foot.
Yusuf Yazici had the opening goal in their defeat against PSG, his fourth of the campaign, moving him above Diakite, Edon Zhegrova and Benjamin Andre for second on the team, but well back of Jonathan David (eight).
Oussama Targhalline is the only injury concern for Le Havre, with the Moroccan defender expected to be out until early March with a hip injury.
Elsner made three changes to his starting 11 from matchday 20 to 21 in Ligue 1, bringing Loic Nego, Abdoulaye Toure and Mohamed Bayo into the fold, with Daler Kuzyayev, Rassoul Ndiaye and Antoine Joujou relegated to the bench against Rennes.
The last time a Le Havre player found the back of the net in this competition was in late January, when Andre Ayew notched a brace and Emmanuel Sabbi also scored in a 3-3 draw with Lorient, while their last goal in Ligue 1 was an own-goal courtesy of Youssouf Fofana in a 1-1 draw with Monaco.
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Santos, Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Bentaleb, Andre; Haraldsson, Gomes, Cabella; David
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Sangante, Kinkoue, Lloris, Operi; Ayew, Toure, Kechta, Sabbi; Joujou, Bayo
We say: Lille 2-0 Le Havre
Both sides are in a slump, but Lille look more likely to snap out of it and being on home soil should be precisely what they need to regain their confidence.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
