Le Havre will invite reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to the Stade Océane in their Ligue 1 campaign opener on Friday. The hosts retained their top-flight status last season, finishing just three points above the relegation zone. The visitors, meanwhile, picked up their record-extending 12th league title.
The hosts endured a five-game winless run in the pre-season after winning their first friendly. They concluded the pre-season with a 6-0 loss to Bochum at home last week.
The visitors played just two public friendlies in the pre-season. After a 2-2 draw against Sturm Graz earlier this month, they played out a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig last week.
Le Havre vs PSG Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have crossed paths 34 times in all competitions. As expected, the visitors have the better record in these meetings with 19 wins. The hosts have got the better of the capital club four times and 11 games have ended in draws.
- The visitors are on a seven-game unbeaten streak against the hosts, recording six wins while keeping four clean sheets.
- The hosts had concluded the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season on a poor note, with just one win in their last nine league games.
- Three of Le Havre’s four wins against the visitors have been registered at home, with the last one coming in the Ligue 1 in 1999.
- Paris Saint-Germain had suffered just one defeat in Ligue 1 since September and were unbeaten in away games last season. Interestingly, their last away defeat in the league came in February 2023.
- The two sides last met in April, with the match ending in a 3-3 draw. It was the first time the hosts had scored three goals against the capital club in the 21st century.Le Havre vs PSG Prediction
Le Club Doyen have just one win in their last nine league games but managed to hold PSG to a 3-3 draw in that period. They have lost four of their last five home games in the league, failing to score in three games, which is a cause for concern.Issa Soumaré, Oussama Targhalline, and Yoni Gomis are confirmed absentees for the hosts while captain Arouna Sangante is a doubt.
Les Parisiens will look to get their title defense underway with a win and their strong record against the hosts bodes well. They won 13 of their 17 away games in the league last season and are strong favorites.
Luis Enrique will be without the services of long-term absentees Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez for the campaign opener while Nuno Mendes will serve a suspension. Nonetheless, the Spaniard is expected to field a strong starting XI.
Considering the visitors’ dominance in this fixture and the upper hand in terms of squad quality, the defending champions are expected to register a comfortable win.
Prediction: Le Havre 1-2 PSG
