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

Los Gones are rooted to the foot of the table after taking a solitary point from their opening four games, while last season's Ligue 2 champions find themselves in the top half.

Match preview

A second 4-1 thrashing in the space of a fortnight proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Laurent Blanc, who was given his marching orders during the international break after a humiliating defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Los Gones also endured a 4-1 crushing at the hands of Montpellier last month, following a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg on the opening weekend, with the club's sole point coming from a goalless draw against Nice, in which OL conceded 21 shots while managing just one attempt on target.

Having made their worst start to a Ligue 1 campaign in almost six decades, Lyon were left with no choice but to part company with Blanc, who was only able to lead the club to a seventh-placed finish last term.

Not only do Lyon possess the worst offensive record in the division - having scored three goals in four games - but they also hold the joint-worst defensive record, with fellow strugglers Lens matching OL's tally of 10 goals conceded.

By contrast, Le Havre have enjoyed a hugely promising start to the season, losing just one of their four matches since gaining promotion to the top tier of French football for the first time since 2009.

Following 2-2 draws with Montpellier and Rennes, the top-flight newcomers claimed an impressive 3-0 victory over Lorient before the international break, courtesy of second-half goals from Daler Kuzyayev, Nabil Alioui and Nolan Mbemba.

Like many of his teammates, Alioui has adapted swiftly to the demands of top-flight football, netting three goals in his first four Ligue 1 appearances, while Kuzyayev has already bagged two goals since his summer move from Zenit St Petersburg.

Led by 41-year-old Slovenian manager Luka Elsner, Le Havre lost only three of their 38 matches en route to lifting the Ligue 2 trophy last season, conceding a measly 19 goals in the process, so the Normandy outfit will be hopeful of extending their stay in Ligue 1.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

Lyon form (all competitions):

Le Havre Ligue 1 form:

Le Havre form (all competitions):

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Team News

The hosts will be without ex-Liverpool and Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren for the foreseeable future as he continues to recover from a muscle injury.

Lyon will almost have to make do without Bradley Barcola and Castello Lukeba, who joined Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window, while Houssem Aouar and Karl Toko Ekambi also departed Groupama Stadium.

Veteran striker Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line on Sunday, with Rayan Cherki offering attacking support to the lone striker, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles could join Corentin Tolisso in midfield.

As for the visitors, there are question marks over the fitness and availability of 21-year-old forward Josue Casimir and Moroccan midfielder Oussama Targhalline, who both missed the games against Rennes and Lorient.

Luka Elsner will likely stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation this weekend, meaning that Elysee Logbo will continue to lead the line, with Abdoulaye Toure and Yassine Kechta sitting in front of the back four.

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Mata, Diomande, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Maitland-Niles; Nuamah, Caqueret, Cherki; Lacazette

Le Havre possible starting lineup:

Desmas; Salmier, Sangante, Lloris, Operi; Toure, Kechta; Nego, Kuzyayev, Alioui; Logbo

We say: Lyon 3-2 Le Havre

Regardless of what happened before the international break, Lyon will view Sunday's clash as the ideal opportunity to kick-start their season.

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