Match Overview

The Ligue 1 Matchday 3 encounter between Le Havre and Nice is scheduled for August 31st at the Stade Océane. This preview delves into predictions, odds, and key statistics for the Le Havre vs. Nice clash.

Le Havre’s Form Analysis

Le Havre has endured a tough start to the championship, suffering defeats in both of their opening fixtures, falling to Monaco (1:3) and Lens (1:2). These early setbacks have left Le Havre in the relegation playoff zone, currently occupying 16th place in the Ligue 1 standings. Notably, the team has conceded 5 goals in just two rounds, with only Brest (6) having a more porous defense. Furthermore, Le Havre has been unable to secure a victory in their last 6 home matches in the French top flight, registering 1 draw and 3 losses during this period.  

• The club has failed to win in 6 of their last 8 Ligue 1 encounters (1 draw, 5 losses).
• Both teams have found the net in each of the team’s last 8 home matches in this tournament.
• At least 3 goals have been scored in 6 of Le Havre’s last 8 home games in the French Championship.

Le Havre’s Predicted Lineup (4-5-1)*

Mory Diaw – Yanis Zouaoui, Gautier Lloris, Arouna Sangante, Fodé Doucouré – Ayumu Seko, Issa Soumaré, Yassine Kechta, Rassoul Ndiaye, Loïc Nego – Mbwana Samatta.

Nice’s Current Form

Following a narrow 0:1 defeat to Toulouse in their opening match, Nice bounced back with a convincing 3:1 victory over Auxerre in their subsequent fixture. This win marks Nice’s fifth triumph in their last 7 French Championship games (with 2 losses). The victory against Auxerre propelled them to 9th position in the Ligue 1 table. It’s worth noting their inconsistent defensive performance in away matches, where they have conceded goals in their last 11 outings.  

• Nice has scored the opening goal in 6 of their last 8 matches in France’s top division.
• Both teams have scored in 10 of Nice’s last 11 away matches in Ligue 1.
• Away from home, the club has avoided defeat in 16 of their last 22 league games (8 wins, 8 draws).

Nice’s Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)*

Yvann Diouf – Kojo Oppong, Djuma Ba, Antoine Mendy – Melvin Bard, Tom Louchet, Salis Abdul Samed, Hicham Boudaoui – Jérémie Boga, Isak Jansson,  Kévin Omoruyi.

Team News

Midfielder Pablo Rosario has departed the club, joining Porto.

Match Official Details

Jérôme Brisard (France)

Referee Statistics Overview

Matches officiated – 19 (Ligue 1, 2024/25–2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 74;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;

Red cards shown – 7;

Average fouls per match – 24;

Penalties awarded – 42%.

Match Prediction: Le Havre vs. Nice

Le Havre faces an incredibly challenging fixture list at the start of the season. After suffering defeats to Monaco and Lens, they are now set to face Nice. It is unlikely that this upcoming match will be any easier for them. The visitors, Nice, are traditionally contenders for European qualification spots. They commenced their current season earlier than many other French teams due to their participation in Champions League qualifiers and are steadily building towards optimal form. Following a disappointing stumble in their opening match against Toulouse, a game where the Côte d’Azur club arguably deserved points, they convincingly overcame a solid Auxerre side in their most recent fixture.   However, Nice’s defensive issues persist, and the large number of injured backline players, including captain Dante, continues to impact their reliability. Despite their losses to strong opponents in the current championship, Le Havre managed to score against both Monaco and Lens. Furthermore, the club boasts an impressive scoring streak of 17 consecutive matches in Ligue 1. Le Havre also consistently finds the net at home, having scored in their last 8 matches in this tournament. Conversely, Nice has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 away league fixtures.   Nevertheless, Le Havre’s defense is far from impenetrable; they have conceded goals in their last 13 home Ligue 1 matches. Therefore, I anticipate both teams will score in this encounter. This expectation is further supported by the fact that in 3 of the last 4 head-to-head matches, since Le Havre’s return to the French top flight, both sides have managed to score. My prediction: “Both Teams to Score – Yes” at odds of 1.75.  

Disclaimer

* The starting lineup listed for each team is from their previous match in this tournament.