Toulouse vs Le Havre Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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At Stadium de Toulouse this weekend, it is winless but improved Toulouse looking to finally get a victory this season welcoming what appears to be a brighter and refreshed Le Havre side this season.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 15th September, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 Pass / US – beIN Sports
TOULOUSE PREVIEW: TOULOUSE LOOKING TO WIN
In 2022, Toulouse, with the RedBird Capital ownership group that are also attempting to be smarter than everybody else with AC Milan, gained promotion back to Ligue 1. They managed to finish in mid-table but winning the Coupe de France qualified them for the UEFA Europa League and that hampered them last season with a small squad way ahead of schedule.
When they were knocked out by Benfica in the early spring, Toulouse majorly improved before the end of the season so there will be relatively high expectation on Carlos Martinez Novell and his side. They have begun the 2024/25 campaign with two draws and a defeat in their opening three matches so there is a bit of early pressure.
LE HAVRE PREVIEW: STRONG START FOR DIGARD
In 2023, Le Havre gained promotion to the top-flight of French football for the first time in 15 years and they did very well to avoid the bottom three and the relegation places under the management of Slovenian coach Luka Elsner. Elsner has since departed for Stade de Reims and been replaced by former Middlesbrough manager Didier Digard.
Le Havre began the season with a solid performance against Paris Saint-Germain in which they lost by four goals to one but it was 1-1 with just five minutes to go. Since then, though, their performances have turned into results with Le Havre winning 2-0 away at Saint-Etienne before then defeating Auxerre by three goals to one.
TOULOUSE TEAM NEWS: FRANK MAGRI OUT
Summer signing from Leeds United, Charlie Cresswell, has served a one-match suspension so he will return to the side as they welcome Le Havre this weekend.
However, Carlos Martinez Novell does have to deal with another defensive suspension and that is Cameroonian international forward Frank Magri.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Restes; Cresswell, Nicolaisen, McKenzie; Gabriel Suazo, Sierro, Cristian Casseres Jr, Donnum; Aboukhlal, Gboho; King
UNAVAILABLE: Magri (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
LE HAVRE TEAM NEWS: SAME ISSUES
There are a few long-term absentees for Didier Digard to deal with as Yoni Gomis remains out with Andy Logbo nursing an ACL injury as well as Emmanuel Sabbi still unavailable.
Digard will hope to continue the progress that Le Havre have played so far this season and continue playing with a fluency and energy they showed in the opening month.
PREDICTED XI (5-4-1): Desmas; Nego, Sangante, Salmier, Lloris, Operi; Ndiaye, Kechta, Toure, Targhalline; Soumare
UNAVAILABLE: Gomis (Injured), Logbo (Injured), Sabbi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
TOULOUSE VS LE HAVRE PREDICTION
Toulouse intend on playing a progressive, possession-based style of football but like so much of modern football, and especially when deployed in a three-at-the-back system, it can be overly controlled, cautious and, frankly, tedious. Le Havre have played two newly-promoted sides but their performance against PSG is also an indication they will be solid enough this year. Even with that encouragement, though, this is unlikely to be thrilling for the neutral.
TOULOUSE VS LE HAVRE TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
