Lille vs Le Havre – News and Probable Lineups

Lille Olympique Sporting Club will face Le Havre Athletic Club at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq this Saturday as part of the Ligue 1 fixtures.

After an impressive start, Davide Ancelotti’s reign at the top of the Ligue 1 standings came to an abrupt end with a 1-2 defeat against Nice in the previous match, and he will hope his team can bounce back at home against a Le Havre side that has not secured a victory in five league encounters this season.

Match overview

Since being appointed in June 2026 to succeed Bruno Genesio, Ancelotti’s team managed to take home three wins and a draw in their first four league matches, which briefly saw Lille perched at the summit of Ligue 1.

Their solid performance fell apart on September 20 when Lille encountered a 1-2 loss to Nice at the Allianz Riviera, marking their first defeat of the campaign.

Currently, Lille occupies the fourth position in Ligue 1 with 10 points from five games, consisting of three wins, one draw, and one loss, having scored eight goals and conceded four.

Olivier Giroud, who celebrated his 40th birthday on September 30, set an example for the Ancelotti era by finding the net in their opening match against Angers, earning him the distinction of being Ligue 1’s fifth-oldest goalscorer in the modern era, and he has extended his stay with Lille by signing a new one-year contract in June.

During the recent transfer window, Lille revamped their squad, selling teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City for approximately €95m and winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo to Newcastle United for around €60m. New arrivals included forward Ayase Ueda from Feyenoord, winger Basar Onal from NEC Nijmegen, and midfielder Mads Kjaergaard from Red Bull Salzburg.

Ethan Mbappe, younger brother of Kylian, has been a prominent figure under the new head coach and will be looking to continue his connection with Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, who operates just behind Giroud.

Lille has also made a return to the Champions League this term, having lost by a score of 2-3 at home against Real Betis on the opening matchday, and Ancelotti now faces the challenge of juggling Saturday’s matchup with an upcoming trip to Arsenal for the following Tuesday, October 13.

Didier Digard’s team has had a challenging start to the season, enduring the league’s longest winless streak with only two points from their first five matches, placing them at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table.

Le Havre began their campaign with a 0-1 home loss to Mônaco, followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Lyon, suffered a 1-2 defeat at home to Brest, drew 0-0 with Angers, and then faced a 2-3 home defeat against Toulouse on matchday five.

The team has managed to score only four goals while conceding seven in those five fixtures, revealing ongoing defensive issues that plagued them throughout much of the previous season.

Digard, who is in his third full season at the helm, signed a contract extension until 2027 in June after leading Le Havre to safety during his previous two seasons, finishing in 14th place last term, just three points clear of the relegation playoff zone.

This off-season saw personnel changes rather than improvements, as Yassine Kechta, Gautier Lloris, and Loic Nego, regulars in Digard’s squad last season, all departed the club without a transfer fee being generated.

New players have been brought in, including Japanese duo Kaito Mizuta and Sota Nakamura, who previously played for RW Essen and both started the drawn match against Angers on matchday four.

Team News

Ancelotti has reported no new injury concerns ahead of the visit from Le Havre, with Giroud, Mbappe, and Haraldsson all fit after playing a full part in the match against Nice.

New signings Ueda, Onal, and Kjaergaard have all adapted well to the squad and are available for selection, providing the coach with a nearly full roster to choose from. However, he may consider making rotations due to the impending fixture against Arsenal in the Champions League.

On the other hand, Digard is managing a lengthy injury list for Le Havre, with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau and forward Felix Mambimbi both long-term absentees due to Achilles tendon injuries sustained during pre-season.

Defenders Stephan Zagadou, Timothee Pembele, and Paul Argney have also been sidelined with injuries, leaving Digard with limited defensive options ahead of a challenging trip to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Lille probable starting XI:

Ozer; Saints, Ngoy, Alexander, Perraud; Andrew, Bentaleb; Haraldsson, Mbappe, Ueda; Giroud

Le Havre probable starting XI:

Gallon; Uncle, Touba, Mwanga; Jelert, Ebonog, Richardson, Ouziad; I am here, Samatta; Maja

Lille has triumphed in four of the last six encounters against Le Havre, with their only defeat occurring in the February 2025 match. They remained unbeaten at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy during their last meeting, where Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s early goal was countered by Issa Soumare’s equalizer, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

With Le Havre yet to secure a win and struggling defensively on away outings, coupled with Lille’s determination to rectify the setback against Nice in front of their home support, Ancelotti’s side appears well-positioned to reclaim victory.