In a dramatic flourish on their website, Ligue 1 bottom side Le Havre have called Paris Saint-Germain a team to “haunt our sleepless nights”, filled with “footballers of flamboyant class and dazzling talent” as the leaders travel to Stade Oceane the night before Halloween.
“Terrifying creatures are everywhere,” Le Havre say, citing the “brilliant” likes of Illia Zabarnyi, Warren Zaire-Emery, Mika Godts, Ferran Torres and Desire Doue.
To counter the threat, says head coach Didier Digard, Le Club Doyen’s squad must “be ourselves” and “represent Le Havre, the club, the city”.
“[We must] demonstrate the values that have allowed our club to stay up three years in a row, with so much fighting spirit, selflessness, and solidarity,” said Digard. “And believe in ourselves. That’s the foundation of all success.”
PSG’s form is also foreboding, moving top for the first time this season by beating Lyon 2-0 at home on Monday to secure their eighth consecutive win in all competitions.
“Every time we’ve been there or faced teams considered to be weaker, we’ve had problems,” warned head coach Luis Enrique.
“Even though we’re top of the table and they’re bottom, there will be difficult moments to manage during the match.
“It’s a test and a challenge for us. We have to continue to find sources of motivation to perform well. It’s never easy to go and play at Le Havre.
“They cause problems… they’re one of the teams in Ligue 1 that put in the most crosses. We have to show that we’re ready to overcome all that.”
Le Havre vs PSG team news
Right-backs Timothee Pembele (adductor) and Elias Jelert (dead leg) are out for Le Havre, as is centre-half Stephan Zagadou (knee).
Winger Felix Mambimbi has not featured this season because of an Achilles tendon injury, which is also the problem afflicting goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.
Defender Marquinhos and forward Ousmane Dembele are absent for PSG with hamstring issues, while winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has a serious knee injury.
Left-back Nuno Mendes and goalkeeper Alessandro Longoni both have dead legs.
Le Havre vs PSG predicted line ups
Le Havre: Gauthier Gallon, Ayumu Seko, Junior Mwanga, Ahmed Touba, Djibril Ouziad, Enzo Koffi, Rassoul Ndiaye, Simon Ebonog, Amir Richardson, Rayan Fofana, Mbwana Samatta
PSG: Matvey Safonov, Achraf Hakimi, Ilya Zabarnyi, Willian Pacho, Lucas Hernandez, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Maghnes Akliouche, Ferran Torres, Desire Doue
Where to watch Le Havre vs PSG: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 18:00 GMT (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Amazon Prime PPV, which charges £2.49 for the game.
Ligue 1 Pass also shows matches live, costing £9.99 a month or £79.99 a season.
Le Havre vs PSG stats, Ligue 1 form
- Le Havre (131) and Paris Saint-Germain (163) have had the most attempts at goal in this season’s Ligue 1 alongside Brest (136)
- Since a 3-1 home win in October 1999, Le Havre are winless in 11 matches against PSG (all league), losing 10 times and earning a 3-3 draw away in April 2024
- Three of their four wins against PSG have come at home, also prevailing on their own turf in March 1997 and April 1987
- After eight games, they are the only team yet to win in this season’s Ligue 1 (D2 L6) and are three points behind second-bottom Troyes, as well as five shy of Strasbourg immediately outside of the relegation zone
- Midfielder Simon Ebonog has suffered the fourth-most fouls in this season’s division (20), behind Strasbourg’s Gessime Yassine (23), Lorient’s Jean-Victor Makengo (24) and Monaco’s Lamine Camara (26)
- PSG have lost 12% of their Ligue 1 matches against Le Havre (4 out of 34), which is a better record than against any other team they have faced at least as many times, apart from Brest (8%)
- Luis Enrique’s side have scored in each of their last 14 away league matches, netting 28 times during that stretch to establish the best current such run in the top flight
- They have not lost any of their six away matches in all competitions this season, winning four in a row since starting the campaign with draws at Rennes and Lille
- Toulouse’s Cristian Casseres Jr (860) is the only player to have touched the ball more than PSG’s Vitinha (808) in this season’s Ligue 1
- Vitinha has completed 85 passes more than any other player (682) and attempted 66 more (740), achieving a success rate of 92%
Le Havre vs PSG prediction for Ligue 1 match
Le Havre 0-2 PSG
Le Havre’s only defeat by more than a goal this season was a 3-1 home loss against Auxerre, although they fell 4-0 behind at Marseille last Sunday before replying three times. PSG are in excellent form but the hosts’ results suggest they will keep the scoreline respectable on an occasion they are clearly charged for.
You Should Also Read
