Expert’s Detailed Analysis
October often brings rain to Normandy, but the match between local club Le Havre and Rennes, arriving from Brittany, is expected to unfold under sunny skies. The question is, which team will maintain a bright mood after the final whistle?
Le Havre has only experienced such elation once this season, following an unexpected home victory over Nice (3:1). However, it must be noted that Nice’s season, in general, has been challenging. For the Sky and Navy, other results have largely been disappointing. In the previous round, they couldn’t even defeat bottom-placed Metz (0:0), who had only secured a single point before that game. Half of Le Havre’s matches have seen over 2.5 goals, while the other half have been under, but in most (five) of their games, their players have scored no more than one goal.
Rennes also settled for a goalless draw against Lens last weekend, which was an absolute failure considering their opponent played with ten men from the very first minute. The Rouge et Noir managed only two shots on target from 14 attempts and squandered three clear-cut scoring opportunities. Surprisingly, the visitors created even more chances while shorthanded (four clear chances). Half of Rennes’ matches have seen Under 2.5 goals, and in four out of six games, they have scored no more than one goal.
In the second leg of the 2024/25 season, their head-to-head encounter in Normandy ended in a crushing 1:5 defeat for the hosts. However, prior to that, Le Havre had lost twice with a narrow 0:1 scoreline. Rennes’ superior quality might suggest a victory for them, but a double chance bet on Rennes (win or draw) combined with a low-scoring affair seems to be the optimal choice.
Mark Thompson
