Marseille vs Le Havre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-10-07 11:00.
An issue that blighted Marcelino’s brief Marseille tenure has remained a problem under his successor Gennaro Gattuso, who saw his men score the opener in his first two matches in charge against Monaco (L 3-2) and Brighton & Hove Albion (D 2-2), only to let leads slip on both occasions. As a result, it’s now four times already this season in all competitions that the side have dropped points after going 1-0 up.
Gattuso’s charges have the chance to immediately make amends as they return on Sunday to the Orange Vélodrome, where they haven’t yet lost this term (W3, D2). Indeed, if you just take into account 2023/24 home fixtures in Ligue 1, no team has let in fewer than L’OM’s one, and that was in the tenth minute of matchday one against Reims.
A win for 12th-placed Marseille could theoretically take them as high as sixth in what is a very bunched table, but they will have to overcome an impressive Le Havre, who currently sit above their illustrious opponents on goal difference. The newly promoted outfit are in the top flight for the first time in 15 years and have proved a tough proposition on the road, drawing all of their opening three games on their travels this term.
That unbeaten away record is even more impressive when you consider that they came from behind to gain a point at both Rennes and Montpellier, but you have to go back to 1938 for the last time the Sky and Navy tasted victory at Marseille (W14, D6)! Visiting head coach Luka Elsner will no doubt be looking to improve on the four points he amassed in his two previous H2Hs while he was Amiens boss, although that pair of results does include the Unicorns’ famous late comeback at the Vélodrome to secure a 2-2 draw.
Players to watch: Iliman Ndiaye made a huge impact on his first league start in five weeks at Monaco, scoring and assisting in the first half, with all three of the former Sheffield United man’s goal contributions this campaign coming in the first 25 minutes of matches. He is likely to be facing Nabil Alioui, who has bagged four times in five encounters and has only been outscored in Ligue 1 this season by three other players.
Hot stat: Le Havre have accumulated just five bookings in Ligue 1 this term – at least three fewer than any other side.