Rennes vs Le Havre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-10-24 18:45.
[p]Rennes’ worst start to a Ligue 1 term in several years continued when they snatched a point away to Brest last weekend (1-1) in their first local derby of the season. Despite their valuable equaliser, Rennes sit just two points clear of the relegation zone, with their underwhelming start prompting some supporters to call for head coach Julien Stéphan to resign. [/p]
[p]Stéphan’s position was already under threat prior to the weekend, so it’s fair to say that their upcoming trilogy of Ligue 1 matches against fellow strugglers Le Havre, Auxerre and Toulouse could make or break their season. They go into this one as warm favourites thanks to their record at home, where all but one of their league points this season were collected (W2, D1, L1), with the only defeat coming against title challengers Monaco. [/p]
[p]Le Havre were unable to beat Rennes in either H2H last season (D1, L1) and appear in no position to do so this time, as they possess Ligue 1’s longest active losing streak of five games. An optimistic supporter could point to the magnitude of some of the assignments faced in that time, with the likes of Lille (L 3-0), Lyon (L 4-0) and Monaco (L 3-1) much further up the table. [/p]
[p]Head coach Didier Digard’s vow to take an attacking approach to their game at the start of the season is unravelling, and after they conceded nine unanswered goals in their last three defeats, he admitted that attacking football is leaving them “fragile defensively”. A pair of 2-0 losses away to Toulouse and Brest during their current losing streak suggests that meeting another bottom-half opponent won’t provide any respite, so Digard has an immense challenge ahead of him.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ludovic Blas scored Rennes’ first goal in their last Ligue 1 home game (L 2-1 v Monaco) as well as in their last home H2H against Le Havre (D 2-2). Daler Kuzyaev also scored against Monaco earlier this season, which still stands as Le Havre’s most recent league goal despite coming back in late September.  [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Rennes scored 3+ goals in 14 of their last 20 Ligue 1 wins. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]