Le Havre vs Strasbourg – News and Probable Lineups

Strasbourg aims to secure a spot in the top six of Ligue 1 as they head to Stade Oceane to face a struggling Le Havre this Sunday.

Le Club Doyen is in search of their first victory in four matches, while Le Racing has a chance to clinch five wins in six outings this weekend.

Match overview

Didier Digard’s Le Havre returned to the top division after winning the Ligue 2 title in the 2022-23 season. They are once again fighting to evade relegation this season.

Currently, Le Club Doyen is positioned 15th in the league table with 20 points, which places them six points ahead of Nantes in the relegation playoff spot.

The team has struggled recently, managing to win just one out of their last eleven league matches since late October.

However, the head coach can highlight that Le Havre has only faced defeat once this year, a narrow 1-0 loss to Lens last Friday, as a sign of progress.

Moreover, the hosts have been notably resilient at Stade Oceane, suffering only one defeat at home in Ligue 1 since August 23.

Conversely, Le Club Doyen has been unable to find the back of the net in three of their last five fixtures across all competitions, and with the second-lowest tally of goals in the league, they may soon be drawn into the relegation battle.

In contrast, Strasbourg is enjoying good form but must convert their current run into points in Ligue 1 if they hope to fulfill their European aspirations.

After losing their former manager Liam Rosenior to Chelsea last month, Le Racing has shown resilience under the guidance of new head coach Gary O’Neil.

Recently, they triumphed over Mônaco with a 3-1 scoreline in the Coupe de França round of 16, which marked their fourth win out of five matches since O’Neil took charge.

The sole setback for the new head coach was a 2-1 defeat to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on February 1, leaving Strasbourg in seventh place with 30 points, just one point behind sixth-placed Rennes.

A win on Sunday could elevate Le Racing to as high as fifth place, and their supporters will be encouraged by the team winning three of their last four away matches.

Adding to the optimism, Les Bleu et Blanc possess an impressive attacking record, having scored more than any other team outside the top six, including 16 goals in their last five fixtures.

Team News

Le Havre will miss defensive midfielder Abdoulaye Toure and attacker Reda Khadra due to knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. Consequently, Lucas Gourna-Douath, Simon Ebonog, and Rassoul N’diaye are expected to fill the central roles.

Additionally, head coach Digard mentioned in his press conference that centre-back Arouna Sangante may clear concussion protocols in time for Sunday’s match, while fellow defender Gautier Lloris is a doubt but could be available.

If Lloris is not fit to start, it’s likely that Sangante will partner 17-year-old Stephan Zagadou in defense, with Loic Nego and Yanis Zouaoui occupying the full-back positions.

On the Strasbourg side, striker Emanuel Emegha was nearing a return from a thigh injury but suffered a setback in training and will be sidelined longer.

At this time, O’Neil is expected to stick with Joaquin Panichelli leading the attack, supported by an offensive trio of Diego Moreira, Julio Enciso, and Martial Godo.

Young midfielder Maxi Oyedele is also on track for a comeback from a significant ankle injury sustained in September, although Samir El Mourabet and Valentin Barco are anticipated to start as a double pivot this weekend.

Le Havre probable starting XI:

Pain-Nzau; Nego, Sangante, Zagadou, Zouaoui; Gourna-Duath, Ebonog, Ndiaye; Boufal; Questur, Sumare

Strasbourg probable starting XI:

Penns; God, Strength, Anselmino, Chilwell; The Mourbisity, Barco; Moreira, Enciso, Godo; Panichelli

Le Havre may be experiencing a downturn in form, but their determination at home remains strong, indicating a tightly contested match on Sunday.

Nonetheless, Strasbourg has demonstrated impressive performances under O’Neil, and their attacking prowess could see them walk away with all three points this weekend.