Le Havre's Ligue 1 baptism of fire continues with a trip to European hopefuls Rennes on Sunday in gameweek three of the 2023-24 campaign.
Bruno Genesio's men were held to a 1-1 draw by Lens last time out, while their newly-promoted visitors fell to a 2-1 loss at home to early high-flyers Brest.
Match preview
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Despite putting five past Metz in a merciless opening-day showing, Rennes failed to replicate such supremacy in front of goal during a trip to last year's runners-up Lens, who needed just three minutes to break the deadlock last Sunday thanks to a ferocious Deiver Machado drive.
The left-back's second goal in as many Ligue 1 matches saw Franck Haise's troops enter the break a goal to the good, but only eight minutes after the restart, Kevin Danso - normally a reliable figure at the back - felled Arnaud Kalimuendo inside the area, and Benjamin Bourigeaud calmly sent Brice Samba the wrong way from the spot.
Bourigeaud kept his celebrations to a minimum against the club he previously made 114 appearances for, and both outfits had chances to snatch a maximum in the closing stages, but Samba and his opposite number Steve Mandanda stood tall to preserve a point apiece for their respective sides.
Sitting pretty in third place in the table thanks to their strong start and glut of opening-day goals, Les Rouges et Noir seek to extend their unbeaten Ligue 1 streak to seven games on Sunday, although the stalemate with Lens did snap their five-game winning run in the top flight.
Nevertheless, Roazhon Park is normally where the heart is for Les Rouges et Noir, who have prevailed in each of their last five home contests in Ligue 1 - scoring at least two goals on each occasion and keeping three clean sheets - and it has remarkably been over two years since Rennes shared the spoils on their own turf, which coincidentally was another 1-1 draw with Lens in August 2021.
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From embarking on a miserable five-game losing run in pre-season to holding Montpellier HSC to a respectable 2-2 draw in their Ligue 1 opener, Le Havre took to the Stade Oceane for the very first time in the French top flight last weekend, where Brest sought to keep the momentum going from their thrilling five-goal triumph over Lens.
Les Pirates were on course to do just that when the red-hot Romain Del Castillo swept home with 28 minutes gone, and while Le Havre managed to equalise through a fine Daler Kuzyaev strike, they were on level terms for a mere four minutes as Lilian Brassier's bullet header restored Brest's lead.
There was to be no late salvation for Luka Elsner's troops, who remain winless in the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season after two games and find themselves down in 14th place as a result - a standing which would certainly be deemed satisfactory come the end of the campaign, though.
Netting in both of their top-flight fixtures so far offers some optimism for the Ciel et Marine faithful, but Elsner must work overtime to address ongoing defensive deficiencies before a daunting trip to Rennes, although Les Rouges et Noir are winless in their last three fixtures versus Le Havre since triumphing 1-0 in 2003.
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Team News
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Since taking a point away from Lens, Rennes have bid farewell to Manchester City-bound winger Jeremy Doku, raising approximately £55.8m through the sale of the Belgian protege, who was only on the bench for the trip to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis anyway.
On the other hand, Doku's fellow Belgian Adrien Truffert has penned a contract extension with Les Rouges et Noir until 2026, although the left-back has played second fiddle to 18-year-old Jeanuel Belocian so far this term as he works his way back from a layoff.
Belocian was a bit worse for wear when he came off in the 82nd minute last weekend, but the 2005-born starlet is not thought to have sustained a serious issue, meaning Genesio will likely have a full complement of players available to him.
Similarly, Le Havre are set to enter gameweek three with a clean bill of health, although right-back Josue Casimir lasted just 45 minutes in the loss to Brest and may be fearing for his spot amid competition from Samuel Grandsir.
Alternatively, experienced Hungary international Loic Nego could be introduced into a defence-heavy setup as Elsner seeks to nullify the fearsome Rennes attack, while another moment of magic from Kuzyaev in the number 10 spot would not go amiss.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Belocian; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Le Fee; Blas, Kalimuendo, Gouiri
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Nego, Lloris, Salmier, Sangante, Operi; Toure, Ndiaye; Kuzyaev; Alioui, Soumare
We say: Rennes 4-0 Le Havre
Despite Doku's indisputable importance to the Rennes attack over the past couple of seasons, Genesio's men have already taught a footballing lesson to one promoted side at Roazhon Park this term and ought to begin life without the Belgian in scintillating fashion.
Le Havres's five-man defence has been breached at will in their opening two fixtures, and things could get ugly fast for Elsner's side if the likes of Bourigeaud and Ludovic Blas are allowed to get into full flow.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
