Preview: Le Havre vs. Lens - prediction, team news, lineups

Les Sang et Or came from behind to hold Lille to a 1-1 draw last time out, while their newly-promoted hosts were put to the sword 3-0 away to Marseille.

Match preview

Despite making waves in their first few weeks back in the top flight - even navigating their first three away matches unbeaten - a Halloween horror show could now be in store for Le Havre, who have been bested in both of their October fixtures so far.

Seven days on from a 2-0 home beating at the hands of Lille, Le Havre were subjected to their first away defeat of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season at Marseille, who consigned their own off-field problems to history with a comprehensive three-goal trouncing.

Arouna Sangante's unfortunate own goal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's delicate dink put Les Olympiens out of sight in the first half - where Rassoul Ndiaye was also banished for two bookable offences - and Aubameyang then provided a slick backheel assist to Ismaila Sarr in the dying embers.

A two-week hiatus to dissect their recent defeats came at the ideal time for Le Havre head coach Luka Elsner, whose team have dropped to an unlucky 13th place in the standings on account of their recent slump, although a six-point gap still separates them from the automatic relegation places.

While attempting to get one over Marseille at their Velodrome base may have been a step too far, Le Havre now welcome Lens to a ground where both Lorient and Clermont have left empty-handed so far this season, but the visitors are slowly starting to look more like their old selves again.

With former midfield maestro Seko Fofana in attendance, Lens huffed and puffed for the opening goal against Lille but were thwarted time and time again by Dogues number one Lucas Chevalier, who then witnessed his opposite number make a fatal error deep into added time.

Indeed, Brice Samba came out to meet an Edon Zhegrova cross and missed - allowing Lille captain Benjamin Andre to head home into an empty net - but only one minute after his second-half introduction, Lens left-back Deiver Machado nodded in the equaliser from Przemyslaw Frankowski's delivery.

The international break arguably could not have come at a worse time for Haise's troops, who have also marked their return to the Champions League in style with four points from two games against Sevilla and Arsenal, while the Lille stalemate stretched their unbeaten streak to five games in all tournaments.

However, by virtue of their dreadful start, Les Sang et Or still languish below their upcoming hosts in the table in 15th place, but it is not impossible for Lens to rise as high as eighth with victory on Friday; they would require a fanciful nine-goal annihilation to overtake Rennes, though.

Nevertheless, Haise's charges - who have never been renowned for consistency on their travels - ended a three-game losing run on the road by sinking Strasbourg 1-0 at the end of September, but they have gone winless in their last seven meetings with Le Havre since a 1-0 Ligue 2 success in November 2016.

Le Havre Ligue 1 form:

D

W

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W

L

L

Lens Ligue 1 form:

L

L

L

W

W

D

Lens form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

W

D

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Team News

Having been cautioned with just 12 minutes gone against Marseille, Le Havre midfielder Ndiaye foolishly clipped at Sarr's heels from behind, and the 21-year-old must now take to the naughty step for his one-game suspension.

Ndiaye's absence should lead to an immediate recall for Russia international Daler Kuzyaev in the centre of the park, while striker Mohamed Bayo also came off injured against Marseille and was not called up to the Guinea squad for October's internationals.

With Antoine Joujou also struggling to overcome an ankle problem, wingers Nabil Alioui and Samuel Grandsir could battle it out to spearhead the charge for Le Havre, who will not have Alois Confais (knee) or Oussama Targhalline (muscle) at their disposal either.

While Machado's impact off the bench for Lens against Lille was positive, fellow substitute Elye Wahi's sole contribution was to pick up a third yellow card of the season, and the ex-Montpellier HSC man will also sit this one out alongside Ndiaye.

ACL victims Wuilker Farinez and Jimmy Cabot will keep Wahi company on the sidelines, while defensive regulars Kevin Danso (knock) and Massadio Haidara (thigh) are hopeful of shaking off their afflictions in time for the match, where Jonathan Gradit will also return from a ban of his own.

Haidara's return to the first team could very well be fast-tracked, as both Facundo Medina and Machado must make long journeys home from their World Cup qualifiers in South America, so 19-year-old Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov - who was also in action for his country this month - should be on standby again.

Le Havre possible starting lineup:

Desmas; El Hajjam, Sangante, Lloris, Operi; Toure; Nego, Kechta, Kuzyaev, Alioui; Grandsir

Lens possible starting lineup:

Samba; Danso, Gradit, Haidara; Aguilar, Abdul Samed, Fulgini, Frankowski; Sotoca, Thomasson; Said

We say: Le Havre 0-1 Lens

With suspensions, injuries and international-related fatigue plaguing both head coaches, Friday's encounter is unlikely to be a classic, especially if both of Bayo and Wahi are not present on the Stade Oceane turf.

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