Lens vs Le Havre: Prediction, Team News, and Lineups Preview

Lens will face Le Havre on Friday at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, aiming to reclaim the top spot in Ligue 1. Currently, Lens sits second in the league, trailing Paris Saint-Germain by two points. They recently suffered a 3-1 defeat against Marseille, snapping their impressive 10-match winning streak across all competitions. In contrast, Le Havre ranks 15th and earned a goalless draw with Monaco last weekend.

Match Preview: Lens vs. Le Havre

Last week’s loss marked Lens’s first defeat in Ligue 1 since October, when they fell 2-0 to Metz. A win against Le Havre would briefly return them to first place and prevent them from experiencing consecutive league losses for the first time this season. Coach Pierre Sage has a strong track record, having not faced back-to-back defeats since he took over in June.

At Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens has been formidable, winning their last nine competitive matches on home turf. Defensively, they have performed excellently, allowing just 16 goals this season, with only three conceded at home, and they have kept four consecutive clean sheets in Ligue 1.

Previous Encounters

• Lens has earned points in five of the last six matchups with Le Havre.
• In their previous encounter at Stade Oceane in August, Lens won 2-1.

Le Havre’s Resilience

Despite lacking creativity, Le Havre has managed to remain unbeaten this season. They demonstrated solid defensive capabilities, allowing a goal or less in each of their three matches. However, they have not won any of their last four away fixtures, failing to score in three of those matches.

Currently, Le Havre sits six points clear of the relegation playoffs and eight points ahead of Auxerre, who occupy one of the bottom two spots leading to Ligue 2. They hope to maintain or extend their unbeaten streak, which stands at four matches this season, with a favorable outcome on Friday.

Team News

Lens may be without Jonathan Gradit due to a lower leg injury. Jhoanner Chavez is doubtful with a thigh strain, while Regis Gurtner and Samson Baidoo are dealing with hamstring issues. Recently, Rayan Fofana netted his third goal of the season against Marseille.

Le Havre might miss key players, including Abdoulaye Toure (knee), Etienne Youte Kinkoue (head), Gautier Lloris (hamstring), and Reda Khadra (shoulder). Lionel Mpasi-Nzau was crucial in their last match, securing a clean sheet against Monaco.

Predicted Lineups

In conclusion, Lens is favored to secure a narrow victory, predicting a 1-0 win against Le Havre, due to their stronger offensive options and solid home record.