Havre — Lens : Match Preview and Prediction for August 24,2025

Havre’s Current Form and Season Start

In the second round of the French Championship, Havre is set to host Lens. Both teams were unable to secure points in their opening fixture, making this encounter a crucial opportunity for them to gain their first points and recover early in the season. Last season, Havre barely managed to avoid the relegation playoffs, finishing just one point ahead of Reims. The team suffered 20 defeats across 34 matches. Even their home ground offered little solace, as they collected only 11 points from 17 home games, with a dismal goal difference of 15-41 – the worst in Ligue 1. Manager Digar has remained at the helm, and the squad has seen minimal changes. Havre also concluded their pre-season without a single victory, indicating potential persistent challenges. Havre’s first match of the season saw them fall 3-1 to Monaco. While the outcome was largely expected, their performance left many questions unanswered. Defensive issues were abundant, allowing Monaco to comfortably score three goals without exerting maximum effort. In attack, Havre created very few clear-cut chances, frequently resorting to speculative shots from outside the box.

Lens’s Ambitions and Recent Performance

Lens is widely regarded as a more established and stronger team. Last season, the “Red and Gold” fell short of qualifying for European competitions by just five points. However, even these decent results weren’t enough for Still to continue his tenure with the French club. Pierre Sage was appointed as the new head coach. Sage had previously demonstrated his capabilities effectively at Lyon. During the off-season, Pierre oversaw numerous friendly matches where the team showcased impressive attacking strength, netting 16 goals in 7 games. Only Roma managed to secure a victory against Lens during this period. It’s also important to note that the new coach has brought in a significant number of new recruits. While it will take some time for the team to fully integrate and find their rhythm, the long-term prospects appear very positive. In their opening league match, Lens suffered a home defeat against Lyon. Coach Sage couldn’t secure a win against his former club. Nevertheless, from a performance standpoint, there were minimal criticisms leveled against the home side. Lens demonstrated superiority in nearly all aspects of the game, suggesting that their inaugural victory of the season is not far off.