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Lyon
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 5
Sep 17, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Le Havre

Lyon
0 - 0
Le Havre


Lacazette (5'), Mata (41'), Kumbedi (79')
FT

Bayo (38'), Casimir (65')

Preview: Lyon vs. Le Havre - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Le Havre, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Following the sacking of Laurent Blanc, managerless Lyon will aim to secure their first Ligue 1 victory of the season when Le Havre visit the Groupama Stadium on Sunday evening.

Los Gones are rooted to the foot of the table after taking a solitary point from their opening four games, while last season's Ligue 2 champions find themselves in the top half.


Match preview

Lyon coach Laurent Blanc reacts on September 3, 2023© Reuters

A second 4-1 thrashing in the space of a fortnight proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Laurent Blanc, who was given his marching orders during the international break after a humiliating defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Los Gones also endured a 4-1 crushing at the hands of Montpellier last month, following a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg on the opening weekend, with the club's sole point coming from a goalless draw against Nice, in which OL conceded 21 shots while managing just one attempt on target.

Having made their worst start to a Ligue 1 campaign in almost six decades, Lyon were left with no choice but to part company with Blanc, who was only able to lead the club to a seventh-placed finish last term.

Not only do Lyon possess the worst offensive record in the division - having scored three goals in four games - but they also hold the joint-worst defensive record, with fellow strugglers Lens matching OL's tally of 10 goals conceded.

Lyon players look dejected after the match on September 3, 2023© Reuters

By contrast, Le Havre have enjoyed a hugely promising start to the season, losing just one of their four matches since gaining promotion to the top tier of French football for the first time since 2009.

Following 2-2 draws with Montpellier and Rennes, the top-flight newcomers claimed an impressive 3-0 victory over Lorient before the international break, courtesy of second-half goals from Daler Kuzyayev, Nabil Alioui and Nolan Mbemba.

Like many of his teammates, Alioui has adapted swiftly to the demands of top-flight football, netting three goals in his first four Ligue 1 appearances, while Kuzyayev has already bagged two goals since his summer move from Zenit St Petersburg.

Led by 41-year-old Slovenian manager Luka Elsner, Le Havre lost only three of their 38 matches en route to lifting the Ligue 2 trophy last season, conceding a measly 19 goals in the process, so the Normandy outfit will be hopeful of extending their stay in Ligue 1.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L

Lyon form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W

Le Havre Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W

Le Havre form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W


Team News

Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring for Lyon on September 7, 2022© Reuters

The hosts will be without ex-Liverpool and Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren for the foreseeable future as he continues to recover from a muscle injury.

Lyon will also have to make do without Bradley Barcola and Castello Lukeba, who joined Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window, while Houssem Aouar and Karl Toko Ekambi also departed Groupama Stadium.

Veteran striker Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line on Sunday, with Rayan Cherki offering attacking support to the lone striker, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles could join Corentin Tolisso in midfield.

As for the visitors, there are question marks over the fitness and availability of 21-year-old forward Josue Casimir and Moroccan midfielder Oussama Targhalline, who both missed the games against Rennes and Lorient.

Luka Elsner will likely stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation this weekend, meaning that Elysee Logbo will continue to lead the line, with Abdoulaye Toure and Yassine Kechta sitting in front of the back four.


Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Mata, Diomande, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Maitland-Niles; Nuamah, Caqueret, Cherki; Lacazette

Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Salmier, Sangante, Lloris, Operi; Toure, Kechta; Nego, Kuzyayev, Alioui; Logbo


SM words green background

We say: Lyon 3-2 Le Havre

Regardless of what happened before the international break, Lyon will view Sunday's clash as the ideal opportunity to kick-start their season.

There is no hiding the fact that Lyon and Le Havre have experienced contrasting starts to the 2023-24 campaign, but OL can play with freedom following Blanc's departure.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Lyon vs Le Havre

Lyon
69.2%
Draw
24.6%
Le Havre
6.2%
65
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Lyon coach Laurent Blanc during the match on April 2, 2023
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG1192033102329
2MonacoMonaco117221881023
3Marseille116232415920
4Lille115421811719
5Lyon115331815318
6Nice1145221111017
7Reims115241915417
8Lens11452129317
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse114341311215
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest114161419-513
13Rennes113261318-511
14NantesNantes112451417-310
15Angers112451320-710
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne113171025-1510
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier112181131-207


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