Lyon host Le Havre in Ligue 1 this weekend at the Groupama Stadium, with the two sides needing the points for different reasons.
The hosts are chasing down the teams above them, and they are still hopeful that they can qualify for next season’s Champions League, while the visitors are currently 16th in the table, and they would have to play in a relegation playoff if they finish the season in that position.
Match preview
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The hosts strengthened their chances of qualifying for Europe with an impressive 2-0 win away to third-placed Nice last weekend.
Late strikes from Rayan Cherki and Ernest Nuamah turned one point into three, and they moved Lyon to within four points of Nice in the table.
The triumph against Nice was their fourth win in six league matches under Paulo Fonseca, who has made a bright, albeit controversial start to life in charge at the club.
The former AC Milan boss is banned from conducting his matchday duties for nine months after confronting the referee in the club’s win against Brest earlier this month.
His side have shown no signs of slowing down their pursuit of European football next term, and they continued their progress in this year’s Europa League with a 7-1 aggregate win against Steaua Bucharest.
Les Gones are now in the quarter-finals of the tournament, and they will face off against Premier League side Manchester United next month.
The Europa League offers another potential route into the Champions League for Fonseca’s side next season, as the winners automatically qualify for the biggest competition in European football.
Lyon have netted at least two goals in all of their matches under Fonseca, with Lyon currently the fifth-highest scorers in Ligue 1, having netted 46 goals in 25 matches – 16 of which have come during Fonseca’s brief time in charge.
The hosts have been impressive at home so far this season, and their only defeat under their new boss at the Groupama Stadium came against league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Their recent win at Nice also gave Lyon their second clean sheet under their new boss, and they will look to record another one this weekend against a Le Havre side that have the second-worst attacking record in the league.
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Didier Digard‘s side have had a difficult season in Ligue 1, but they have looked better in recent weeks, with three draws and two wins in their last eight fixtures.
A run of seven defeats in eight matches in all competitions between December 1 and January 26 left Digard’s job in question, with Le Havre president Jean-Michel Roussier issuing a vote of confidence for the club’s head coach after fans voiced their displeasure at the club’s performance in the league.
Digard is in his first season at the club, having replaced outgoing manager Luka Elsner last summer, and his debut campaign has been far from easy.
Having finished just three points clear of the relegation playoff last season in 15th, Le Havre’s current position of 16th is not a massive surprise.
They have lost 17 of their 26 matches under the former Middlesbrough man, and the club are deeply entrenched in a relegation battle, as they sit in the dreaded relegation playoff position, one point away from safety, and one point off automatic demotion to Ligue 2.
Digard’s men have statistically performed better in away matches so far this season, with four of their six league wins this campaign coming away from home.
As well as struggling to score goals, Le Club Doyen have the third-leakiest defence in the division, having conceded 51 times in just 25 games.
Four of those came in the reverse fixture against Lyon back in December, when Abner Vinicius, Malick Fofana, Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma all netted in a comfortable victory for Lyon.
Last season, the visitors recorded their first win in 25 years against the hosts with a surprise 3-1 victory in their home fixture against them, and they will hope that they can spring a similar surprise against the same opponents this weekend.
Team News
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The hosts have no injury concerns ahead of this fixture, as Fonseca has a fully fit squad to pick from.
Their leading league goalscorer Lacazette will look to hit double figures in Ligue 1 this weekend, as he comes up against a side he has already scored against this season.
Meanwhile, the visitors have a number of injury worries ahead of this match, with Andy Logbo (shoulder) and Daren Mosengo (knee) expected to be sidelined for the weekend.
Elsewhere, Yann Kitala (ankle), Arouna Sangante (back) and Fode Ballo-Toure are further doubts for Digard’s side.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Perri; Tagliafico, Niakhate, Mata, Kumbedi; Tessmann, Matic, Fofana, Tolisso, Nuamah; Lacazette
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Gorgelin; Zouaoui, Lloris, Kinkoue, Nego; A Toure, Diawara, Casimir, Kechta, Soumare; Hassan
We say: Lyon 4-0 Le Havre
Lyon are in fine form, and they netted four goals on Thursday against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League.
Le Havre have had a couple of decent results lately, but we think their defence will continue to ship goals against a prolific Lyon attack, so we are going for a repeat of the 4-0 scoreline from earlier this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
