This Saturday 19th, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Le Havre (16th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off 5pm, CET) as part of the 30th day of Ligue 1 2024-2025. And as before every match, here’s a look at the Parisians’ opponents.
Le Havre’s situation –
Le Havre returned to Ligue 1 last summer after largely dominating Ligue 2 2022/2023 following a 10-year absence from the elite.
Matthieu Bodmer, a former PSG player who is now the club’s sporting director, has worked hard to move the club forward. There were some difficulties last season, with a narrow 15th-place finish, but that’s logical for a promoted club. We need to take advantage of the fact that we’ve been maintained to consolidate and try to move forward. Even if the competition is bound to be tough, given our modest budget.
That, in any case, is the mission of Didier Digard, who replaced Luka Elsner (who left for Reims in place of Will Still, who signed for Lens). For the moment, it’s a possibility, even if it’s far from a sure thing, given the club’s current 16th place in Ligue 1 (play-off position).
The 2024 summer mercato –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures:
Arrivals:
The 2024/2025 winter mercato –
Departures:
Arrivals:
Key statistics –
This season, Le Havre is among the league’s 14th-best attackers with 32 goals scored (first-placed PSG have 80 and last-placed Montpellier 21), and has the 16th-best defense with 62 goals conceded (PSG are first with 26 and last-placed Saint-Etienne 67).
Le Havre’s top scorer is 24-year-old midfielder Abdoulaye Touré, who ranks 20th in the league with 8 goals (Ligue 1 leader Ousmane Dembélé has 21). Issa Soumaré (29-year-old striker) is Le Havre’s best passer with 3 assists, 42nd in Ligue 1 (Bradley Barcola is first with 9 assists).
Le Havre’s last 5 matches –
Only Le Havre’s possession is shown and Le Havre’s shots are put first (when data is available).
09/03/2025 (Ligue 1) – Le Havre/Saint-Etienne : 1-1. In 4-2-3-1. 46% possession. 13 shots including 7 on target vs. 12 shots (3 on target).
15/03/2025 (Ligue 1) – Lyon/Le Havre: 4-2. In 4-2-3-1. 46% possession. 14 shots including 5 on target versus 16 shots (7 on target).
30/03/2025 (Ligue 1) – Le Havre/Nantes : 3-2. In 4-2-3-1. 53% possession. 16 shots including 5 on target vs. 7 shots (2 on target).
06/04/2025 (Ligue 1) – Montpellier (down to 10 at 90+6 minutes, 0-2)/Le Havre : 0-2. 4-2-3-1 formation. 45% possession. 13 shots including 4 on target vs. 14 shots (6 on target).
04/13/2025 (Ligue 1) – Le Havre/Rennes : 1-5. In 4-2-3-1. 56% possession. 11 shots including 2 on target vs. 10 shots (6 on target).
The squad and the probable team.
Le groupe de Didier Digard pour aller affronter @PSG_inside cet après-midi 📜#PSGHAC ⌛️🔜 pic.twitter.com/hw41UA1SeQ
— Havre Athletic Club ⚽️ (@HAC_Foot) April 19, 2025
Out – Elysée Logbo, Arouna Sanganté, Yanis Zouaoui (injuries).
The team according to the press in 4-1-2-1-2 (L’Equipe):
Ayew – Casimir
Kechta
Mwanga – Touré – Diawara
Pembélé – Lloris – Diawara – Nego
Gorgelin
Le Havre’s style of play.
For a lower-ranked team, Le Havre tend to play possession football, even if this is not their particular strength. Their determination is commendable, but it’s not what you’d expect against PSG.
We’re more likely to see an aggressive block and, above all, direct play, with no hesitation in taking chances from distance or crossing. These are already the habits of Le Havre, and quite logical against Paris. Particularly aerial play, a strength of Le Havre and rather a weakness of Paris. It’s up to PSG to concentrate.
