Le Havre vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Le Havre have started their 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign in fairly underwhelming style as the hosts now prepare to take on a new look Lens at Stade Oceane this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Le Havre preview: Defeat on opening day
Former Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard somehow managed to steer Le Havre clear of the bottom three and the danger zone last season with a late run of form, and the club have stuck by him with the intention being to simply avoid the drop again.
Le Havre started the 2025/26 season slowly on the opening day of the campaign as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Monaco at Stade Louis II last weekend, in a game that perhaps flattered Le Havre in a dominant performance from the Monegasque.
Lens preview: Lens looking average
Over the summer, Lens have experienced another managerial change with Will Still moving to Southampton and him being replaced by former Olympique Lyonnais boss Pierre Sage, who was harshly sacked by Lyon in mid-January.
On the opening day of the season, the northerners fell to a 1-0 loss to Lyon at Stade Bollaert-Delelis last weekend. Georgia international striker Georges Mikautadze scored the only goal of that game in first-half stoppage-time in the north of France.
Le Havre team news: Couple of doubts
Le Havre head into this weekend’s encounter with a couple of key injury doubts, as Thomas Delaine could well be sidelined alongside midfielder Abdoulaye Toure.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Diaw; Lloris, Kinkoue, Seko; Sangante, Kechta, Ndiaye, Zouaoui; Ebonog, Soumare, Namli
Unavailable:
Questionable: Delaine (Injured), Toure (Injured)
Lens team news: Several issues
Lens head to the coast with several issues for this one as defender Jhoanner Chavez is among those potentially unavailable alongside the injury prone Martin Satriano.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Risser; Baidoo, Sarr, Udol; Aguilar, Diouf, Thomasson, Deiver Machado; Said, Guilavogui, Fofana
Unavailable:
Questionable: Jhoanner Chavez (Injured), Labeau (Injured), Martin Satriano (Injured)
Le Havre vs Lens prediction
Didier Digard and his Le Havre side put in some entertaining performances in the second-half of last season, and that appeared to suit their squad as results picked up. They remained open last weekend, and that left them exposed against a strong Monaco side, but Lens don’t quite have the strength of the principality outfit, so, with home advantage, Le Havre will be confident of getting three points by playing the same way here.
Le Havre vs Lens tip: Le Havre to win & both teams to score
