Le Havre will be looking to maintain their impressive start to life in Ligue 1 when they welcome Lille to the Stade Oceane on Sunday afternoon.

The top-flight newcomers have lost just one of their six matches since gaining promotion, while LOSC have struggled for consistency this term.

Match preview

If Le Havre manager Luka Elsner was offered seventh place after six games prior to the start of the campaign, the 41-year-old Slovenian would have undoubtedly snapped up the opportunity following his side's promotion from the second tier.

After taking one point from their opening two matches, last season's Ligue 2 champions looked destined to endure a difficult campaign, but they have since chalked up a four-game unbeaten streak, notching two wins and two draws to remain within a point of the European places.

Following a 2-2 draw with Rennes, Le Havre claimed a 3-0 victory over Lorient before holding Lyon to a goalless draw, with a 2-1 win against Clermont coming last weekend, courtesy of goals from Nabil Alioui and Mohamed Bayo inside the opening seven minutes.

Better still, only four teams have scored more Ligue 1 goals than Le Havre's 10 this term, while only four sides have conceded fewer goals than Elsner's men, so the Normandy outfit will fancy their chances of picking up another positive result this weekend.

Despite racking up 70% possession and 14 shots on home soil, Lille were unable to prevent a 2-1 defeat against Reims in midweek, conceding twice in the opening 16 minutes before pulling a goal back late on through Benjamin Andre.

Tuesday's loss ended a four-game unbeaten run for Les Dogues, who followed up a Europa Conference League playoff triumph with positive results against Montpellier and Rennes before kick-starting their European campaign with a 2-0 victory over NK Olimpija Ljubljana.

Still, there is no denying that Paulo Fonseca's men have struggled for consistency in Ligue 1 this season, as they head into their seventh match with a record of two wins, two draws and two losses, having scored eight goals and conceded nine.

It is also worth noting that LOSC have failed to win any of their three away league games in 2023-24, recording a couple of draws and a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Lorient, so Fonseca will need to find a winning formula on the road before too long.

Team News

Le Havre will be without the injured trio of Alois Confais, Antoine Joujou and Oussama Targhalline this weekend, while there are question marks over the fitness of Josue Casimir and Loic Nego.

Casimir assisted both goals in last weekend's victory over Clermont before being substituted, meaning that Emmanuel Sabbi could start on the right flank, with Nabil Alioui lining up on the opposite wing.

Lille have several injury problems of their own, with Nabil Bentaleb (muscle), Tiago Djalo (knee), Adam Ounas (muscle) and Samuel Umtiti (head) all expected to miss Sunday's clash.

Key forward Jonathan David will continue to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Yusuf Yazici, Remy Cabella and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson should line up behind the lone striker.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Brazilian centre-back Alexsandro will likely come in to replace Umtiti and partner Leny Yoro, with Tiago Santos and Ismaily occupying the full-back spots.

Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Demas; Salmier, Sangante, Lloris, Operi; Toure; Sabbi, Kuzyayev, Kechta, Alioui; Logbo

Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Santos, Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Andre, Gomes; Yazici, Cabella, Haraldsson; David

We say: Le Havre 1-1 Lille

Given that Le Havre have only lost one of their six matches this season, we expect Elsner's men to pick up another positive result on home soil, although Lille are expected to leave the Stade Oceane with a point.

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