Le Havre vs Lille — Match Preview
The Stade Océane prepares for a Sunday evening clash as Le Havre AC host European hopefuls LOSC Lille. The two sides arrive with contrasting momentum. Le Havre, managed by Didier Digard, are looking to stabilize after a heavy 3-0 defeat to PSG left them sitting 13th. They face a Lille side, led by Bruno Génésio, that is firing on all cylinders.
Lille are fresh off a dominant week, thrashing Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 in the Europa League and beating Paris FC 4-2 in the league. Currently 4th in the table, Les Dogues will see this trip to Normandy as a must-win to keep pressure on the podium spots. With Le Havre missing key forward options and Lille riding the wave of veteran striker Olivier Giroud’s form, the visitors are clear favorites, but Le Havre’s defensive resilience at home cannot be underestimated.
Le Havre vs Lille — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Le Havre vs Lille
- Competition: Ligue 1 (Matchday 14)
- Venue: Stade Océane, Le Havre (Capacity: 25,178)
- Date: Sunday, 30 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 17:15 CET / 16:15 GMT / 21:45 IST
- Referee: Willy Delajod
- TV Channel (UK): TNT Sports
- TV Channel (USA): beIN SPORTS
- TV Channel (India): Sports18, JioCinema
- Live Stream: beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA), JioCinema (India)
Le Havre vs Lille — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Le Havre:
- Position: 13th in Ligue 1 (14 Points).
- Form: Mixed. Before the loss to PSG, they were unbeaten in three (W-W-D), including a solid 1-0 win over Brest.
- Current Challenge: Scoring goals. With Ally Samatta injured, the burden falls on Issa Soumaré to find the net against a Lille defense that just kept a clean sheet in Europe.
Lille:
- Position: 4th in Ligue 1 (23 Points).
- Form: Excellent. They have won 3 of their last 5 across all competitions, scoring 9 goals in their last two matches alone.
- Current Challenge: Away consistency. Despite their high rank, they have lost recent away games to Strasbourg (0-2) and Red Star Belgrade (0-1). Génésio needs to fix their road woes.
Le Havre vs Lille — What’s at Stake
For Le Havre:
- Breathing Room: A win would push them towards the safety of mid-table and restore confidence at home. A loss could drag them dangerously close to the relegation playoff spot.
For Lille:
- Podium Push: Sitting 4th, Lille need points to close the gap on Monaco and Marseille. They cannot afford to drop points against bottom-half teams if they want Champions League football next year.
Le Havre vs Lille — Team Form
Le Havre (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs PSG (0-3)
- D vs Nantes (1-1)
- D vs Toulouse (0-0)
- W vs Brest (1-0)
- W vs Auxerre (1-0)
Lille (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Din. Zagreb (4-0 – EL)
- W vs Paris FC (4-2)
- L vs Strasbourg (0-2)
- L vs Crvena zvezda (0-1 – EL)
- W vs Angers (1-0)
Le Havre vs Lille — Team News
Le Havre:
- Ally Samatta: Out (Thigh Injury – The summer signing from PAOK is a big miss upfront).
- Abdoulaye Touré: Questionable (Injury – The captain’s physical presence in midfield is vital).
- Mohamed Bayo: Out (Sprained Ankle – Unavailable to face his former club).
- Selection: With Samatta out, Issa Soumaré is expected to lead the line. Yassine Kechta will pull the strings in midfield.
Lille:
- Calvin Verdonk: Suspended (Red Card – The Indonesian left-back misses out).
- Alexsandro: Out (Thigh Injury – Key defender missing).
- Ousmane Touré: Out (Knee Injury).
- Marius Broholm: Questionable (Inactive – The young Norwegian winger is struggling for fitness).
- Marc-Aurèle Caillard: Out (Injury – Backup GK).
- Selection: With Verdonk suspended, Mitchel Bakker or Gabriel Gudmundsson will start at left-back. Olivier Giroud, who has 4 goals this season, is expected to start upfront, supported by Angel Gomes.
Le Havre vs Lille — Head to Head
- 08 Feb 2025: Lille 1–2 Le Havre
- 28 Sep 2024: Le Havre 0–3 Lille
- 17 Feb 2024: Lille 3–0 Le Havre
- 01 Oct 2023: Le Havre 0–2 Lille
- 26 Jul 2023: Lille 3–2 Le Havre (Friendly)
Le Havre vs Lille — Predicted Lineups
Le Havre (5-3-2):
Digard is likely to set up defensively to frustrate Lille’s attack.
- GK: Arthur Desmas
- RWB: Loïc Négo
- CB: Arouna Sangante (C)
- CB: Gautier Lloris
- CB: Étienne Youte Kinkoue
- LWB: Christopher Operi
- CM: Oussama Targhalline
- CM: Rassoul Ndiaye
- CM: Yassine Kechta
- ST: André Ayew (or Sabbi)
- ST: Issa Soumaré
Lille (4-2-3-1):
Génésio will look to dominate possession.
- GK: Lucas Chevalier
- RB: Thomas Meunier
- CB: Bafodé Diakité
- CB: Aïssa Mandi
- LB: Gabriel Gudmundsson (Replacing suspended Verdonk)
- CDM: Benjamin André (C)
- CDM: Ngal’ayel Mukau (or Bouaddi)
- RW: Edon Zhegrova
- CAM: Angel Gomes
- LW: Osame Sahraoui
- ST: Olivier Giroud
Le Havre vs Lille — Impact Bench Options
Le Havre:
- Emmanuel Sabbi: The American winger offers pace on the counter if Le Havre needs a goal.
- Alois Confais: Defensive stability in midfield if they are holding onto a point.
Lille:
- Hakon Arnar Haraldsson: The Icelander is a creative spark who can unlock tight defenses.
- Ethan Mbappé: Offers energy and technical quality in midfield against tired legs.
Le Havre vs Lille — Tactical Outlook
Le Havre:
- Playing Style: Low Block & Counter. Without their main strikers, Le Havre will sit deep, absorb pressure, and look to release Operi or Négo on the flanks. They rely heavily on set-pieces.
- Weakness: Lack of Bite. They have scored only 13 goals in 13 games. If Lille score first, Le Havre struggle to chase the game.
Lille:
- Playing Style: Possession & Crosses. With Olivier Giroud in the box, Lille’s strategy is clear: work the ball wide to Zhegrova and Gudmundsson and deliver quality crosses.
- Strength: Attacking Depth. Even with injuries, they have players like Sahraoui and Gomes who can create magic. Scoring 8 goals in their last two games shows their confidence.
Le Havre vs Lille — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Arouna Sangante vs. Olivier Giroud | Youth vs. Experience: Sangante is physical, but Giroud is the master of positioning. If Giroud wins the aerial duel, Lille will score. | Lille |
| Christopher Operi vs. Edon Zhegrova | Flank War: Zhegrova loves to cut inside. Operi must not dive in. This is where Lille create most of their chances. | Lille |
| Rassoul Ndiaye vs. Benjamin André | Midfield Engine: Ndiaye has energy, but André has the tactical brain. Whoever controls the tempo wins the game. | Tie |
Le Havre vs Lille — Spotlight Players
Arthur Desmas (Le Havre):
The goalkeeper will be busy. Against a Lille side that shoots on sight, Desmas needs to have a “Man of the Match” performance to keep his team in the game.
Angel Gomes (Lille):
The English playmaker is the heartbeat of Lille. With Le Havre likely to pack the defense, his ability to play a killer pass through the lines will be the difference-maker.
Le Havre vs Lille — Fan Reactions
Le Havre Fans:
“PSG was a write-off, but we have to fight against Lille. A draw would be a good result.”
“No Samatta, no Bayo… who is going to score?”
Lille Fans:
“We are flying right now! Giroud is aging like fine wine.”
“Just don’t underestimate them. We lost to Le Havre in February, revenge time!”
Le Havre vs Lille — Match-Defining Factors
- The First Goal: Le Havre rarely come back from behind. If Lille score early, the heads might drop.
- Fatigue: Lille played on Thursday night in Europe. Le Havre have had a full week to prepare. The final 20 minutes could see Lille tire.
- Set Pieces: Lille are vulnerable on corners without Alexsandro. Le Havre’s best chance might come from a dead ball.
Le Havre vs Lille — Prediction
Score Prediction: Le Havre 0–2 Lille
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Lille to Win.
- Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Le Havre struggle to score; Lille might conserve energy).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Olivier Giroud (Target man vs Low Block = Goals).
Analysis: Le Havre are depleted in attack and low on confidence after the PSG defeat. Lille are in peak form, scoring freely and looking solid. Despite the fatigue factor, the quality gap is too large. Expect Génésio’s men to control the game and secure a professional away victory.
Le Havre vs Lille — Final Word
Le Havre will fight hard in front of their home fans, but they lack the firepower to trouble a Lille side that has found its groove. With Champions League spots in sight, expect Les Dogues to be ruthless and take all three points back to the north.
Le Havre vs Lille — FAQs
When is the Le Havre vs Lille match?
The match kicks off on Sunday, 30 November 2025, at 17:15 CET.
Is Olivier Giroud playing for Lille?
Yes, Olivier Giroud is a key player for Lille in the 2025/26 season and is expected to start.
Who is suspended?
Lille’s Calvin Verdonk is suspended for this match after a red card.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Sports18 and stream on JioCinema.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
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