Lille vs Le Havre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-02-07 18:00.
[p]Lille have done enough so far to replicate last season’s top four finish after their 4-1 home win over Saint-Étienne last round means they have recorded an identical record to the one they had after 20 games of the last term (W9, D8, L3). Their cushion to fifth is just a point pre-round, so this game against basement boys Le Havre has seemingly come at a good time as they look to stretch that gap. [/p]
[p]Bruno Génésio’s men will also be out to put the smiles back on the faces of the home faithful after they were left frustrated at seeing their team bow out of the Coupe de France on penalties to second-tier Dunkerque in midweek here (1-1). That loss is the only blemish on a pretty standout record from Lille’s last 13 competitive matches at Stade Pierre-Mauroy (W8, D4), so a response seems likely.[/p]
[p]It’s been a rotten couple of months for Le Havre who are winless in eight league games (D2, L6) and looking increasingly likely to seal an unwanted return back to France’s second tier. They might take some comfort from draws in each of their last two league road trips, yet both came against fellow bottom ten sides (Angers and Reims) while each of their last ten games against current top-ten teams at any venue have resulted in defeat. [/p]
[p]Le Havre’s H2H record against Lille suggests there’s little chance of that changing here, with just one of their past 18 Ligue 1 visits to their hosts delivering a win (D6, L11) – that came way back in 1951! Aside from wins, even goals have been hard to come by in this fixture, with Le Havre managing just one in the previous seven top-flight matches. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Forward Jonathan David has not only scored in two of his last three home matches for Lille, but thanks to two hat-tricks, he has also scored each of Lille’s last six goals against Le Havre in Ligue 1. Attacking rival André Ayew has scored three of Le Havre’s four Ligue 1 goals in 2025, while he’s also scored four goals in 12 personal meetings with the hosts.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: No team has won more penalties than Lille in Ligue 1 this season (eight).[/p]
[p][i]Written by David H[/i][/p]