Preview: Le Havre face Nantes in battle to stay up

Le Havre and FC Nantes face-off in what could be dubbed as almost a ‘relegation decider’ at Stade Océane, with the two sides sat in 14th and 15th place respectively in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table on 28 points.

Despite their equal table positioning, le Marine et Bleu and Les Canaris are seemingly on two different trajectories heading into Sunday’s early game. The hosts are currently on a run of one win in eight top-flight games, as Luka Elsner’s side slip into an increasingly perilous situation only two points off 17th and the relegation play-off spot in 16th.

Le Havre have been performing reasonably well at home this season, having claimed 61% of their points so far this season at Stade Océane – they will be hoping for a sixth home win this weekend.

Nantes are looking for a second win since the return of Antoine Komboauré as manager. Les Canaris will be wanting to get back to winning ways after being defeated by Lyon on home soil last weekend in their manager’s first home game in his new tenure (1-3).

Luka Elsner: “This can’t just be another match”

Le Havre manager Luka Elsner highlighted the importance of the match against Nantes in his pre-match press conference, especially playing in front of a home crowd at Stade Océane on Sunday afternoon.

A win for the Normand club could be a huge step towards maintaining their Ligue 1 status for next season, moving to a three-point lead over Nantes. “It’s an important date in our history and it shouldn’t be just another match,” said the former Slovenia international, who led the Marine et Bleu to promotion from Ligue 2 BKT last season.

“We have to draw on all our resources to give our boys maximum strength so that they can put up a great fight: the administration, the management, the residents of the town, those who were born here, those who have discovered a passion [for the club].”

Le Havre – Nantes: probable lineups

Le Havre: Desmas; Sangante, Kinkoue, Lloris, Operi; Kuzyaev, Toure, Targhalline; Casimir, Ayew, Sabbi

FC Nantes: Lafont; Amian, Zeze, Castelletto, Cozza; Augusto, Chirivella; Mollet, Sissoko, Abline; Mohamed