Le Havre vs Nice Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Le Havre have started this season quite badly, but that is how each of the last two seasons have begun, as they welcome a bizarre Nice side to Stade Oceane this week.
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: Tough start for Le Havre
On the opening day of the campaign, Le Havre were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Monaco at Stade Louis II in the principality in a result that perhaps flattered Le Havre. A week later, they were then beaten at home by Lens last weekend.
In that game, once again, Le Havre were much weaker than the scoreline suggested and there will be concern they are going to fade into a terrible relegation this season, having managed to narrowly avoid the drop in each of the last two seasons.
Nice preview: Up and down Nice
Nice have issues off the pitch with ownership group INEOS making it clear they are not that interested in Nice anymore, and their season began with a woeful 4-0 aggregate loss to Benfica in the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League.
That was then backed up by a defeat at home to Toulouse at the Allianz Riviera on the opening day of the Ligue 1 campaign. After that, though, they did manage to see off newly-promoted Auxerre by three goals to one down on the south of France last week.
Le Havre team news: Delaine a doubt
Ahead of the visit of Nice to the northern coast this weekend, Le Havre do have one injury issue as new signing Thomas Delaine is a doubt due to a hamstring injury.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Diaw; Nego, Sangante, Lloris, Zouaoui; Seko; Doucoure, Kechta, Ndiaye, Soumare; Samatta
Unavailable:
Questionable: Delaine (Injured)
Nice team news: Several injuries
Nice are dealing with several injury issues of this one as experienced defenders Dante and Jonathan Clauss are doubts, with Mohamed Abdelmonem and Youssouf Ndayshimiye confirmed absentees for the southerners.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Diouf; Mendy, Juma Bah, Peprah Oppong; Louchet, Boudaoui, Abdul Samed, Bard; Jansson, Boga; Moffi
Unavailable: Abdelmonem (Injured), Ndayishimiye (Injured), Ndombele (Injured)
Questionable: Dante (Injured), Clauss (Injured), Sanson (Injured), Cho (Injured)
Le Havre vs Nice prediction
Le Havre managed to steer themselves clear of the drop zone by playing an entertaining and front foot style of football last season, and they will be expected to do so once again this year, as they perhaps have with their two games producing seven goals and both teams scoring on both occasions. Nice are expected to be a bit of a mess throughout this campaign, and that could often lead to quite fun watches for the neutral and so a high-scoring clash may be worth backing.
Le Havre vs Nice tip: Over 2.5 goals
