Le Havre vs. Toulouse Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 23 February 2025 - bettingexpert
Get ready for an intriguing clash between Le Havre and Toulouse at the Stade Oceane on 23 February 2025. As we head into Round 23 of Ligue 1, both teams are eager to grab crucial points to boost their standings.
Le Havre, under the stewardship of Didier Digard, find themselves in a precarious 17th position with just 17 points. Despite their struggles, they recently pulled off a surprise 2-1 victory against Lille, showcasing their potential to upset the odds. Their last 5 matches have been a mixed bag, with a pattern of LWDLD.
On the other hand, Toulouse, coached by Carles MartÃnez, are situated in 10th place with 27 points. Their recent form, however, isn’t much to shout about with results of LDLDL, but as bookmaker favorites with odds of 1.96, they remain a strong side.
With referee Francois Letexier in charge, expect a tight contest. Le Havre’s porous defense, having conceded most goals in the time interval 76-90 this season, will need to tighten up against Toulouse’s attacking threats like Zakaria Aboukhlal.
Our recommended bet is for Le Havre to win, buoyed by recent performances and the critical home-field advantage. Match tips suggest that this game could be a turning point for the home side.
Expect an intense encounter as both teams battle it out for crucial points in their respective league journeys.
Le Havre vs Toulouse Prediction & Betting Tip
Our recommended betting tip is to back Le Havre to win. Despite their struggles, Le Havre’s recent surprise victory against Lille and their home-field advantage could be crucial in securing another win.
| Le Havre vs Toulouse Prediction | |
|---|---|
| Betting Tip | Odds |
| Le Havre to win | 4.1 |
- Le Havre recently secured a surprising 2-1 away win against Lille.
- They are playing at home, where the crowd support could be a game-changer.
- Toulouse’s recent form has not been impressive, with a sequence of LDLDL.
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Le Havre Team Analysis
Le Havre Recent Performance
Le Havre’s recent form has been a mixed bag, reflecting their struggles in Ligue 1. Here’s a look at their last five matches:
| Home team | Away team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Le Havre | Nice | 1-3 (Loss) |
| Lille | Le Havre | 1-2 (Win) |
| Angers | Le Havre | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Le Havre | Brest | 0-1 (Loss) |
| Reims | Le Havre | 1-1 (Draw) |
Le Havre’s recent performances show a win over Lille as a significant highlight, giving them a big morale boost. They scored an average of 1.00 goals in their last five games but had no clean sheets, indicating defensive vulnerabilities. The team will need to tighten up at the back to improve their league position.
Le Havre Key Players
Le Havre’s key player to watch is undoubtedly their top scorer, Andre Ayew, with three goals this season. Although the tally may seem modest, Ayew’s experience and leadership on the pitch are invaluable for Le Havre, especially as they grapple with their position at 17th in the table.
Another player who could be a game-changer is Ahmed Hassan Koka, the forward leading the attack in the expected lineup. Koka’s physicality and presence in the box will be crucial against Toulouse’s defense.
Le Havre’s potential lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Mathieu Gorgelin
- Defenders: Loic Nego, Arouna Sangante, Étienne Youte Kinkoue, Yanis Zouaoui
- Midfielders: Junior Mwanga, Antoine Joujou, Yassine Kechta, Mahamadou Diawara, Issa Soumaré
- Forward: Ahmed Hassan
Key battles to look out for include Andre Ayew against Toulouse’s center-back Charlie Cresswell, and Ahmed Hassan facing off against defensive anchors like Umit Akdag. These matchups could very well determine the outcome of the game.
Le Havre Suspensions & Injuries
Le Havre is dealing with several injuries that could impact their performance against Toulouse:
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Bayo | Sprained ankle | Late May 2024 |
| Elysee Logbo | Shoulder injury | Early March 2025 |
| Abdoulaye Toure | Broken rib | Late February 2025 |
| Fode Ballo-Toure | Ankle injury | Late February 2025 |
These absences may force coach Didier Digard to make adjustments, particularly with the defensive and midfield positions heavily affected. The return dates for Abdoulaye Toure and Fode Ballo-Toure are crucial, as their availability could provide a boost just in time for the match.
However, with these injuries, the team’s depth will be tested, and players like Yassine Kechta and Antoine Joujou might need to step up.
Le Havre Tactics and Formation
Le Havre Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 4-1-4-1
- Key Forward: Ahmed Hassan
- Midfield Engine: Antoine Joujou and Yassine Kechta
- Defensive Line: Loic Nego, Arouna Sangante, Étienne Youte Kinkoue, Yanis Zouaoui
Le Havre’s coach, Didier Digard, is expected to set up his team in a 4-1-4-1 formation, which allows for both defensive solidity and flexibility in midfield.
Ahmed Hassan will be crucial up front, aiming to exploit any gaps in Toulouse’s defence. The key for Le Havre will be the midfield trio of Junior Mwanga, along with Joujou and Kechta, who will need to control the tempo and provide service to the lone striker.
Defensively, Le Havre has struggled to keep clean sheets, so their back four must stay compact to withstand pressure. Special attention should be given to staying organized in the latter stages of the game, a period during which they have been particularly vulnerable.
Toulouse Team Analysis
Toulouse Recent Performance
Toulouse has had a tumultuous run recently, failing to secure a win in their last five Ligue 1 matches. With an average of 0.8 goals scored per match and no clean sheets in the last five games, they have encountered a challenging spell. Coach Carles MartÃnez will be keen to turn things around and find the rhythm for his squad.
| Home team | Away team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Toulouse | Paris Saint-Germain | 0-1 (Loss) |
| Auxerre | Toulouse | 2-2 (Draw) |
| Toulouse | Guingamp | 0-2 (Loss) |
| Toulouse | Nice | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Toulouse | Montpellier | 1-2 (Loss) |
Toulouse has been struggling both defensively and offensively. Their lack of clean sheets and limited goal-scoring could be a concern going into this match against Le Havre. To improve their performance, their defense will need to tighten up to avoid conceding crucial goals.
Toulouse Key Players
Toulouse will be looking to their key players to make a difference in their upcoming match against Le Havre.
Zakaria Aboukhlal, their top scorer with 6 goals this season, will be crucial in breaking down Le Havre’s defense. His duel with Le Havre’s centre-backs Étienne Youte Kinkoue and Arouna Sangante could be a game-changer.
Expected lineup for Toulouse:
- Goalkeeper: Kjetil Haug
- Defenders: Jaydee Canvot, Charlie Cresswell, Umit Akdag
- Midfielders: Aron Dönnum, Vincent Sierro, Cristhian Cásseres Jr., Gabriel Suazo
- Attackers: Shavy Babicka, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Frank Magri
With Vincent Sierro directing play in midfield and Gabriel Suazo’s defensive contributions, Toulouse will aim to dictate the tempo of the game and secure a crucial win.
Toulouse Suspensions & Injuries
Toulouse will be missing a few key players due to injuries, which could have a significant impact on their performance against Le Havre. Here’s a quick rundown of the sidelined players:
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Niklas Schmidt | Cruciate ligament injury | Out for season |
| Rasmus Nicolaisen | Ankle injury | Early March 2025 |
| Yann Gboho | Thigh injury | Early March 2025 |
While Toulouse have no players currently suspended, the absence of Niklas Schmidt is a major blow, considering his season-ending cruciate ligament injury.
The expected returns of Rasmus Nicolaisen and Yann Gboho in early March mean they’ll miss this match but could be back soon to bolster the squad. The team’s depth will be tested, and coach Carles MartÃnez will need to rely on his bench to cover these losses.
Toulouse Tactics and Formation
Toulouse Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Key Forward: Frank Magri
- Attacking Playmakers: Aron Dönnum, Shavy Babicka, Zakaria Aboukhlal
- Midfield Duo: Vincent Sierro, Cristhian Cásseres Jr
- Defensive Core: Jaydee Canvot, Charlie Cresswell, Umit Akdag
Toulouse will likely rely on their 4-2-3-1 formation to strike a balance between defensive solidity and offensive creativity. Frank Magri is set to lead the line, looking to capitalize on the creative spark provided by Aron Dönnum, Shavy Babicka, and top scorer Zakaria Aboukhlal.
Vincent Sierro and Cristhian Cásseres Jr will anchor the midfield, offering both defensive cover and transitional support. Defensively, the trio of Jaydee Canvot, Charlie Cresswell, and Umit Akdag will form the backbone, with Kjetil Haug between the posts to ensure solidity at the back.
Le Havre vs Toulouse Head-to-Head Statistics
Let’s take a quick look at the recent encounters between Le Havre and Toulouse to get a sense of how these two sides match up against each other:
| Home | Away | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Toulouse | Le Havre | 2-0 |
| Le Havre | Toulouse | 1-0 |
| Toulouse | Le Havre | 1-2 |
| Toulouse | Le Havre | 4-0 |
| Le Havre | Toulouse | 1-1 |
These matches reveal a mixed bag of results but indicate that Toulouse has managed some strong wins, including a 4-0 thrashing back in 2022. On the other hand, Le Havre has shown they can hold their own with a notable 2-1 away victory and a narrow home win. Given this backdrop, Sunday’s matchup will be compelling as both teams have something to prove.
Odds accurate as of 21.02.2025 16:16, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.
