Marseille vs Le Havre Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Olympique de Marseille may still consider themselves just about in a title race in Ligue 1 as they now welcome strugglers Le Havre down to Stade Velodrome this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 5th January, 2025: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Marseille Preview: De Zerbi’s Marseille
After another summer revolution and rejuvenation down at the Velodrome with former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi leading a heavy summer of spending, Olympique de Marseille begin this weekend sitting ten points behind PSG at the top with a game-in-hand.
They will need to show a ruthless consistency that they haven’t so far if they are to mount a serious challenge towards the top end of the table this season. They hammered Saint-Etienne by four goals to nil in the cup in their most recent outing a few weeks ago.
Le Havre Preview: Digard remains at Le Havre
Following the departure of Luka Elsner to Stade de Reims over the summer, former Middlesbrough manager Didier Digard was appointed and the performances of Le Havre have been quite good to watch but they are very much in danger of a return to Ligue 2.
The visitors begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting firmly tucked inside the bottom two and the automatic relegation places. Their most recent outing saw them hammered by Strasbourg in Ligue 1 before a slender defeat to Stade Briochin in the cup a few days later.
Marseille Team News: Wahi injury
Key attacker Elye Wahi is an injury doubt for this weekend due to a strain. Defender Pol Lirola is missing through suspension for this weekend, too, whilst other key attackers Valentin Carboni and Faris Moumbagna remain out due to injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Rulli; Michael Amir Murillo, Balerdi, Kondogbia; Luiz Henrique, Hojbjerg, Rongier, Merlin; Greenwood, Rabiot; Maupay
Unavailable: Pol Lirola (Suspended), Carboni (Injured), Moumbagna (Injured)
Questionable: Ruben Blanco (Injured), Mbemba (Injured), Ulisses Garcia (Injured), Wahi (Injured)
Le Havre Team News: A few doubts
Le Havre head to the Velodrome with a few key injury doubts for this weekend. Josue Casimir is an injury doubt due to an ankle issue, whilst fellow key first-teamers Arouna Sangante and Andy Logbo also potentially unavailable.
Predicted XI (3-3-3-1): Desmas; Pembele, Kinkoue, Lloris; Nego, Toure, Zouaoui; Ndiaye, Targhalline, Operi; Ngoura
Unavailable:
Questionable: Sangante (Injured), Mosengo (Injured), Casimir (Injured), Soumare (Injured), Kitala (Injured), Logbo (Injured)
Marseille vs Le Havre Prediction
As mentioned, the issue with Marseille and their title challenge this season has been down to the fact they have not been ruthless enough. That has especially been the case at home against teams that will be expected to be involved in the Ligue 1 relegation battle. The venue and the opposition of that match fall into that category and Le Havre certainly have the attacking ideas to try and hurt Marseille but the hosts should get their year off to a winning start.
Marseille vs Le Havre Tip: Marseille to win
