Le Havre v PSG preview: Enrique’s leaders face winless bottom side without Kvaratskhelia
Le Havre v PSG pits Ligue 1's leaders against the only winless side in the division, with Kvaratskhelia out and Marquinhos a doubt for the 6pm UK kick-off.
Le Havre v PSG sees Ligue 1’s runaway leaders visit the only side in the division still without a win, with Luis Enrique’s champions kicking off at Stade Océane at 6pm UK time on Friday.
Main image: DSN graphic
It is first against last in Normandy. Paris Saint-Germain sit top on 17 points after eight games. Le Havre prop up the table on two points, with two draws and six defeats.
François Letexier is the referee for the matchday nine opener, which starts at 7pm local time.
Le Havre v PSG: the key numbers
| Le Havre | PSG | |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 18th | 1st |
| Points | 2 | 17 |
| Won-drawn-lost | 0-2-6 | 5-2-1 |
| Goals for-against | 8-15 | 16-9 |
| Shots this season | 131 | 163 |
PSG ride a winning streak
Enrique’s side arrive in fine form. They have won five in a row in all competitions, including a 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona, a 4-2 victory at Manchester City and Monday’s 2-0 home win over Lyon.
Away from home they have been relentless. The club say PSG have scored in each of their last 14 away league games, netting 28 times in that run.
There is a personal landmark in play too. Enrique is reportedly level with Laurent Blanc on 126 wins as PSG coach, so victory would make him the most successful manager in the club’s history by that measure.
PSG team news: Kvaratskhelia out
The big blow is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger ruptured a cruciate ligament against Barcelona and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Captain Marquinhos is a doubt with a thigh problem, and Ousmane Dembélé is also reported to be sidelined with a hamstring issue. Paris have already lived without key attackers this term: Bradley Barcola left for Liverpool in the summer, a deal our sister site DGBN covered in Barcola’s £123m move from PSG to Liverpool.
French football’s injury list has been long this autumn. National team captain Kylian Mbappé also had a spell out, as we reported when Mbappé left the France camp with a knee tendon injury.
Le Havre’s injury crisis
Didier Digard’s side are short in key areas. First-choice goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is out with an Achilles injury, so Gauthier Gallon is expected to start. Félix Mambimbi and Stephan Zagadou are also missing.
Former PSG full-back Timothée Pembélé is a major doubt against his old club, while Elias Jelert is pushing to return but is unlikely to start.
Le Havre have lost their last four league games and conceded 11 goals in that spell. They are not shy in front of goal, though: only PSG have taken more shots in Ligue 1 this season.
History favours Paris
PSG have lost just four of their 34 league meetings with Le Havre. The last one, in February, ended 1-0 to Paris at this ground.
The packed calendar is the other worry for Enrique as he juggles Ligue 1 and Europe, an issue that has also driven the European Leagues’ EU complaint against FIFA over the international calendar. For a reminder of where French football’s stars stand on the international stage, read our France v Italy preview from earlier this month.
Le Havre need a shock to start climbing. PSG need only to keep doing what they have been doing.
