Le Havre vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-01-13 16:05.
Le Havre had an excellent start to 2024, securing a 2-1 win in the “Normand Derby” against second-tier team Caen in the Coupe de France last weekend, prompting coach Luka Elsner to boast that his players had "built up actions of great class". The outcome likely brought a sense of relief to the Sky-and-Navy after a run of just one win in their last six Ligue 1 matches of 2023 (D2, L3).
That lone victory was an impressive accomplishment as they defeated second-placed Nice 3-1 in their previous league outing at Stade Océane, thereby ending a four-game goal scoring drought in Ligue 1 home games. To extend their five-point lead over the bottom three ahead of this round, Le Havre will also need to snap a discouraging streak of seven winless matches against Lyon (D1, L6).
The last game in that H2H run ended in a goalless draw in the reverse fixture in September, but it's a transformed Lyon team that will travel to the Normandy coast. While Lyon managed to win only one of their opening 14 top-flight matches, they enter this encounter on a streak of three consecutive league victories and continued their uptick in form into the new calendar year with a 3-0 win against fifth-tier Pontarlier in the French Cup on Sunday.
Guided by coach Pierre Sage, who assumed his role at the beginning of December when Lyon occupied bottom place in the table, Lyon’s current winning streak has propelled them two points clear of the relegation zone. Securing three points in this match will likely hinge on maintaining a clean sheet, considering that Les Gones have scored more than one goal in just one of their last ten Ligue 1 road trips (W2, D1, L7).
Players to watch: After scoring a brace and earning the Flashscore ‘Player of the Match’ award in Le Havre's recent league home game, Emmanuel Sabbi will definitely be a player worth keeping an eye on. Defender Jake O'Brien will try to steal the spotlight, having scored three of Lyon's last four Ligue 1 away goals.
Hot stat: Lyon have scored a league-low one goal before the hour mark in their away Ligue 1 matches.