Nice faces Le Havre in a crucial Ligue 1 encounter at Stade Oceane on Saturday. Le Havre sits 11th in the league following a 2-1 loss to Strasbourg, while Nice stands four points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain after a 2-1 win against Reims.
Match Preview
Le Havre has endured a winless streak of four games and faces a scoring challenge, having netted only 13 goals this season.
Despite their struggles in attack, they’ve scored late goals but are yet to display consistent quality in the final third. They’ll aim to avoid a third successive defeat under Luka Elsner.
Their home form has been mixed, winning only two of their last nine league encounters, with no goals scored in their last four home games. Le Havre has a historical advantage against Nice in top-flight fixtures, having won 19 matches against them.
Nice, following a recent 2-1 win against Reims, aims to close the gap on league leaders PSG. They’ve had a solid start with 32 points in 15 games, but their scoring record remains modest, with 16 goals this season.
However, they’ve been defensively resilient, conceding only three goals in their last eight matches against newly-promoted sides.
Both teams enter this game with different forms – Le Havre with a string of draws and losses, while Nice has displayed better consistency.
Team News
Le Havre’s Mathieu Gorgelin remains out with an ankle injury. Yoann Salmier and Nabil Alioui have contributed to Le Havre’s attack, but Alioui hasn’t scored since matchday six.
For Nice, Youcef Atal continues his suspension due to disciplinary reasons, while Sofiane Diop and Khephren Thuram are sidelined with injuries. Gaetan Laborde and Jeremie Boga have been essential in attack, scoring four goals each in the league.
Predicted Lineups
Le Havre: (4-1-4-1)
Desmas;
Sangante, Kinkoue, Salmier, Operi;
Toure;
Nego, Kuzyayev, Kechta, Ayew;
Alioui
Nice: (4-3-3)
Bulka;
Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Bard;
Rosario, Ndayishimiye, Boudaoui;
Moffi, Laborde, Boga
Prediction: Le Havre 0-0 Nice
Both teams have struggled offensively and possess defensive strengths. Considering their recent forms, it’s likely to be a tightly contested match, with defenses coming out on top.