Neither Le Havre nor Montpellier HSC are out of relegation danger heading into Sunday's Ligue 1 game at Stade Oceane.
The visitors, one point behind the Normandy outfit, go into the gameweek 27 fixture in slightly better form than their hosts, and they hope to leapfrog the Dean Club after the international break.
Match preview
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The last fortnight has given Le Havre time to regroup, having suffered yet another defeat that leaves them two points above a relegation playoff spot and four clear of second-bottom Metz.
There was a mini upswing at the turn of the year that saw the Dean Club claim three wins on the trot, even if only one game was a Ligue 1 fixture sandwiched between cup triumphs against Caen (2-1) and Chateauroux (1-0), but it proved unsustainable for last year's Ligue 2 champions.
Luka Elsner's men have claimed just one victory since that cup success, defeating Toulouse 1-0 in their last fixture in front of their supporters in Normandy, ending a two-match losing run on home turf.
Having already claimed back-to-back home victories on two occasions, the promoted side hope to record consecutive triumphs at their ground for the third time in 2023-24.
The fact Le Club Doyen have been beaten three times in 17 home fixtures in all competitions against Montpellier points to their proficiency in navigating matches against this weekend's opponent, and they should back themselves for a fourth triumph in six league matches at Stade Oceane on Sunday.
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The precedent shows that the away side face an uphill battle to win just their fourth match at Le Havre, with this term's road return further emphasising La Paillade's struggles away from home.
Only Metz (eight losses) have suffered more defeats on their travels than Michel Der Zakarian's troops (seven), not helped by MHSC's inability to turn potential defeats into draws — one road draw is a joint-low in Ligue 1.
They did claim a fourth victory away from home in round 25, defeating Champions League-chasing Nice at Allianz Riviera, even if Francesco Farioli's men losing their way in 2024 puts that triumph into context.
With eight matches left this term, Montpellier are perilously close to danger after accruing 26 points from as many matches. Strikingly, this season's tally is the club's lowest at this stage of any campaign since the 2003-04 season — 22 points from 26 — which ended in relegation from Ligue 1.
Finishing bottom of the pile just as they did 20 years back may take a late-season collapse, but La Paillade aim to prevent history from repeating itself two decades later by beating the drop this time.
Team News
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Oussama Targhalline's sending-off in Le Havre's loss at Clermont forces Elsner into a change in midfield, with Rassoul Ndiaye possibly replacing the suspended man.
Josue Casimir and Antoine Joujou are expected to miss Sunday's game because of respective injury problems.
Mohamed Bayo's four goals are a joint-high for the hosts, with Andre Ayew (three) not far behind, and both should start in the home side's attack.
Montpellier's Wahbi Khazri is suspended for one game, while Silvan Hefti and Joris Chotard are doubtful due to thigh and calf issues, respectively — the former missed gameweek 26's loss against PSG, having gone off injured in round 25's victory over Nice. Axel Gueguin's serious knee injury keeps him out for the season.
Akor Adams and Teji Savanier have netted seven each in Ligue this term, and the latter could back up the Nigerian, likely to play at centre-forward on Sunday.
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmus; Sangante, Kinkoue, Lloris, Operi; Toure, Ndiaye; Nego, Kuzyaev, Ayew; Bayo
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Mbiayi, Omeragic, Kouyate, Sylla; Ferri, Leroy; Nordin, Savanier, Al-Taamari; Adams
We say: Le Havre 1-0 Montpellier HSC
While the recent form table — Le Havre have three points from a possible 15 and Montpellier have seven in their last five games — indicates a positive outcome for the visitors on Sunday, a pitiful run of six losses in their previous eight road games means the hosts are backed for a marginal victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
