St Etienne vs Le Havre Prediction & Betting Tips (24 August)

Having fallen into Ligue 2 after the 2021-2022 season, AS Saint-Etienne needed 2 years to make its return to the elite. The Forez players indeed had an excellent second half of the season last year to grab the 3rd step of the podium before dismissing Rodez 2-0 then Metz 4-3 AP over the two matches to validate their comeback. at the highest level. Olivier Dall'Oglio's players were able to build confidence this summer by winning 2 friendly matches against Villarreal 3-1 and Montpellier 1-2 before completing their preparation against Getafe 1-0. On the other hand, they ended up losing at the end of the match against a very good Monaco team last week when they entered the championship 1-0.

On the other hand, confirmation will be awaited from Le Havre who rather convinced last year for his first season in the elite in fifteen years. The Hac, however, scared itself in the spring by finishing in 15th place in the rankings with 3 points ahead of the play-off and future relegated Metz after the last delicate weeks of competition. Orphans of their coach Luka Elsner who was replaced by Didier Digard, the Normans were put in difficulty from their friendly matches which were not really conclusive, notably against Red Star 1-2 and Bochum 0-6. Not spared by the schedule, Le Havre hosted PSG for their debut in Ligue 1 last week and, after holding off the French Champions for a long time, they ended up breaking at the end of the match 1-4.

ASSE lost one of the major players in the rise, in the person of Irvin Cardona. He had scored 9 goals and delivered 3 assists in half a season but returned to Augsburg from whom he had been loaned before taking charge of Espanyol (on loan again). Same thing for wingers Mbuku (4 goals) and Stéphane Diarra (return from loan). The less used Rivera (Dunkirk), the excellent Chambost (Colombus, 6 goals, 7 assists), the defender Nade (free) and the replacement goalkeeper Etienne Green (Burnley) also left. To try to compensate for these departures, winger Davitashvili (Bordeaux), midfielders Boakye (Wolfsberger) and Miladinovic (11 goals and assists in the Serbian championship last season), winger Old (Wellington) and the very experienced defender Abdelhamid ( Reims) were enlisted. Defensive midfielder Mouton is back after being loaned to Pau. The very valuable midfielder Cafaro (4 goals, 8 assists) and top scorer Sissoko (12 goals) are still available. Suspended during the trip to Monaco, Maçon makes his return. The important defenders Appiah, Bentayg and Briançon, the very good midfielder Moueffek (6 goals) and the replacement midfielder Cheikh Fall have still not left the infirmary while the Moroccan Bouchouari, the starting defender Pétrot and the replacement winger Wadji.

Not really in the club's plans, midfielder Monconduit should remain sidelined. Recruited in the middle of last season, experienced striker André Ayew (5 goals) has already ended his adventure with Hac. The not-always-starting center forward Bayo (also 5 goals) returned to Losc from whom he had been loaned. The few reinforcements to report are those of the relatively little-known Bouneb (Valenciennes) and Londja (Valenciennes). American winger Sabbi (5 goals) and the formidable left side Opéri (3 goals, 4 assists) are still present. Returning from loan after a stint with Auxerre, Soumaré is out. This is also the case for the young goalkeeper promising Gomis (starter with France U19 this summer at the Euro), from defender Sangante and midfielder Targhalline who are in the infirmary. Against PSG, it was senior defender Lloris who was able to equalize with quite a bit of success.