As the season progresses in Ligue 1, the relegation battle gets closer. During the weekend, all eyes were at Stade Océane where Saint-Étienne visited Le Havre in a game that could prove to be the difference in the relegation battle. Both teams have had challenging seasons, and the game offers the opportunity to gain vital points. Le Havre, motivated by a new exciting win, hopes to capitalize on home grounds, whereas Saint-Étienne hopes to end a disturbing winless series. The game is of major importance, and the result here may have serious consequences for either club's standing in Ligue 1.
Claim Welcome BonusLe Havre Preview
Le Havre enter this match with renewed hope following an impressive 4-3 victory over RC Lens. In a match that showcased their attacking prowess, Issa Soumaré, André Ayew, Josué Casimir, and a penalty kick from Ahmed Hassan demonstrated their attacking prowess. Having had only 30% possession, Le Havre were clinical, scoring 8 shots on target and having 2 corners. Their defensive vulnerabilities were also revealed, having committed 11 fouls and earned 2 yellow cards.
Le Havre's expected goals (xG) for the upcoming game is 1.33, which represents a moderate offense expectation. The team has a huge issue with some of its major players being absent: Daler Kuzyaev (injury), Arouna Sangante (injury), YassineKechta (injury), Junior Mwanga (suspension), Élysée Logbo (injury).
Their current form has been inconsistent, with two victories, one draw, and two defeats (DWLLW). Under the guidance of coach Didier Digard, Le Havre has been impressive with moments of brilliance but without consistency. Gautier Lloris is the pillar player of their team with 2 goals and 1 assist from 25 games, providing solidity at the back. Le Havre is 16th in the table with 6 victories, 2 draws, and 16 defeats, earning 20 points. Beating this team is crucial to distance ourselves from the relegation zone and build some momentum for the rest of the season.
Saint-Étienne Preview
Saint-Étienne's troubles continued in a 3-1 defeat by OGC Nice in their last match. They managed a mere 63% possession but were only able to find the net once through Lucas Stassin. The side had 12 shots on goal and 3 corners but were undone by 10 fouls and 2 yellow cards, a reflection of the discipline issues that have plagued their season.
The upcoming games has Saint-Étienne's xG set at 1.42, which is a slightly higher attacking expectation than that of their visitors. They do, however, have key absentees: Dylan Batubinsika (suspension), Ibrahima Wadji (injury) Pierre Ekwah (injury), Ben Old (injury).
Their recent form is concerning, losing three and drawing two of their last five games (LLLDL). Manager Eirik Horneland must reverse this slide. The team's brightest star is Zuriko Davitashvili, who has been in superb form with 7 goals and 4 assists in 24 games, showcasing his attacking quality and creativity. Saint-Étienne is currently 17th in the table with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 15 losses, having 19 points. A victory in this game is needed to trigger a change and prevent relegation threats.
Head to Head
Historically, matches between Le Havre and Saint-Étienne have been tightly fought. In their recent match on August 24, 2024, Le Havre beat Saint-Étienne with a 2-0 margin, demonstrating tactical organization and efficiency in converting scoring chances. Saint-Étienne leads the head-to-head statistics with 18 wins to Le Havre's 14, and 15 draws. This history has an added level of intrigue surrounding the upcoming match, with both teams requiring points to secure their Ligue 1 status.
History of Head-to-Heads
Ligue 1 2024/2025 
Saint-Etienne
Ligue 1 2024/2025
Le Havre
Ligue 2 2022/2023
Saint-Etienne
Ligue 2 2022/2023
Le Havre
Le Havre Latest Games
Le Havre
Amiens
Le Havre
Paris FC
Lille
Le Havre
Nantes
Le Havre
Brest
Le Havre
Le Havre
Saint-Etienne Latest Games
Saint-Etienne 
Saint-Etienne
US Ecotay Moingt
Saint-Etienne
Saint-Etienne
Paris FC
Saint-Etienne
Toulouse
Saint-Etienne
AS Monaco
Saint-Etienne
Expert Betting Tips
Le Havre to Win or Draw and Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.75 Odds: Given the eight-match winless streak of Saint-Étienne and the recent victory of Le Havre, a bet on the home side to win or draw is a more secure option.
Le Havre to Score First @ 1.80 Odds: With home advantage and increased confidence, Le Havre may capitalize at the beginning of the match.
Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.877 Odds: Le Havre's recent high-scoring match and Saint-Étienne's defense susceptibility suggest a match full of goals.
Other predictions
