As Ligue 1 enters Round 17, RC Lens welcomes the struggling Le Havre AC in an encounter full of contrasts. The match pits together two teams seeking consistency: while Lens has been consistent, trying to reach the European position though stumbled in the recent weeks; Le Havre fights against relegation, with its poor form lately. Lens, with only one win away from home this season, will aim at exploiting Le Havre's frailties. Will Didier Digard's side cause an upset, or will Will Still's men get their momentum back?
What are your thoughts on this crucial clash? Can Lens reignite their push for Europe, or will Le Havre spring a surprise? Share your predictions in the comments below!
Claim Your Welcome BonusLe Havre AC
Matters only got worse for Le Havre after the chastening 5-1 defeat at Olympique Marseille, with Andre Ayew's 85-minute goal mere consolation. The pressure is growing on coach Didier Digard as his team lies in 17th position, having lost their last five matches and averaging only 0.8 goals per game.
Defender Christopher Operi has been one of the few bright spots, but all in all, the defense that leaks 2.1 goals per game has been Le Havre's glaring weakness; similarly, their away form has not been much different, with just one win in five attempts. Can Digard rally his side to prevent the further fall or will the visitors be overrun once again?
RC Lens
RC Lens come into the fixture as favorites but with a bit of caution following a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Toulouse. A red card for the midfielder David Pereira Costa in the 61 minutes disrupted their rhythm, and they finally conceded a penalty in the 73rd minute. Despite this setback, Lens have been solid this campaign with only a 0.9 goal-per-game average that is best in Ligue 1.
Their goalkeeper, Brice Samba, has been a stalwart between the sticks with seven clean sheets so far. A recent signing of Pau Lopez, coming off a strong 2023/24 season, further deepens their backline. Coach Will Still will hope their unbeaten streak against Le Havre in the last four meetings comes to fruition. Lens' form has dipped slightly with no wins in their last three matches.
Head to Head
Traditionally, these have been closely contested sides, with eight wins apiece for Le Havre and Lens, respectively, and eight draws. In recent times, though, things have gone the way of the home team, with Lens not having lost any of the last four meetings, including opening the scoring in four of the last five. This could give them a slight psychological edge going into this tie as they seek to preserve that record.
History of Head-to-Heads
Ligue 1 2025/2026 
Lens
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Le Havre
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Lens
Ligue 1 2023/2024
Le Havre
Ligue 1 2023/2024
Lens
Le Havre Latest Games
Le Havre
Paris FC
Lille
Le Havre
Nantes
Le Havre
Brest
Le Havre
Le Havre
Rennes
Le Havre
Lens Latest Games
Lens
Lens
Lens
Strasbourg
Lens
FC Lorient
Lens
Marseille
Paris FC
Lens
Lens
Expert Betting Tips
Match Outcome: Based on historical odds and current form, Lens is the likely victor. Le Havre's poor away record, along with Lens' strong defense and unbeaten H2H streak, makes a home win probable.
Total Goals: Le Havre's defensive weaknesses could give way to a high-scoring game, but Lens's recent trend of under 2.5 goals in four of their last five games suggests otherwise.
Total Corners: Lens averages 5.6 corners per game, while Le Havre also manages to average 3.5. Both teams have been staying under 10.5 corners in most recent matches.
Other predictions
