Still a solid leader in Ligue 2, Le Havre begins its derbies session by receiving Quevilly-Rouen. Almost assured of maintenance, QRM will seek to break Le Havre’s incredible invincibility. For its part, SM Caen will want to prove to Niort, at the red lantern, that it can win away.
A little closer to the stars? Le Havre AC could get closer to a return to the top flight this weekend, on the 32nd day of Ligue 2. While the Hacmen will welcome neighbors Quevillo-Rouennais, their competitors for the climb, Bordeaux (2nd) and Metz (3rd), will have complicated duels, respectively against Grenoble (7th) and Saint-Etienne (9th).
Now undefeated for 29 games, Le Havre footballers have their sights set on the absolute second division unbeaten record, held by CS Sedan (32 games between May 1954 and February 1955). To become number 1 in this prestigious list, the HAC will still have to avoid defeat against QRM, then Caen, Rodez and Annecy.
It’s two welcome games, I’m happy to play derbies, I think it’s important moments of the season. There is rivalry on the field. It also gives us another reason to want to win.
Luka Elsner, coach of Le Havre AC
However, Quevilly-Rouen-Métropole intends to prevent them, and create a surprise in an Océane stadium which has never seen a setback from its hosts this season. With 43 points on the clock, Olivier Echouafni’s men almost certainly have the game in hand. Already winners of the two regional confrontations against Caen (1-0 at d’Ornano and 2-1 at Diochon), the Yellows and Reds would see themselves taking a prestigious revenge against the Sky and Marine who had come to beat them on their lawn against the run of play in early November (0-1).
It’s a vintage! If we have to compare Le Havre to something beautiful, their 2022-2033 season is an extraordinary vintage. Just by the statistics, I want to use the word stratospheric. We’re tackling an out-of-category stage but it’s a derby, and in a derby, anything can happen. One day or another, the series are made to stop. And since it’s a derby, I want to say “why not?”
Olivier Echouafni, coach of Quevilly-Rouen Métropole
A week before a derby against Le Havre which will take place in a sold-out stadium in Ornano, Caen will try to show that it can win away from home. Best home team in the championship, the SMC ruined its season with its starving performance outside (3 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses: 14th/20).
“CIt’s complicated, because it’s so not rational that it’s hard to explain itlaments Stéphane Moulin, the weed trainer. We are not going to make it a syndrome. We remain on two away defeats, having taken 5 goals so it already requires being more solid defensively. Afterwards, goals, we know we can score them”.
In Niort, facing a red lantern which should, unless there is a major surprise, be relegated at the end of the season, Stéphane Moulin’s players will therefore be keen to bring back the three points. However, they will have to do without Swedish midfielder Anton Salétros, injured, and especially without Alexandre Mendy, suspended. The Caen top scorer (15 league goals) has collected three yellow cards in the last four games.
At the peak, to replace “the Tree”, Moussa Sylla declares himself “at 100% capacity“, he who landed in Calvados at the end of January during competition. “No matter where I play, I will adapt. As long as I’m in the field it’s a good thing“. Decisive for the first of the season last weekend during the victory against Paris FC (an assist), Sylla will try to score his first goal in Blue and Red at the René Gaillard stadium.
And who knows? While there are still 21 points to collect by the end of the season, and they will face Bordeaux in 15 days, Stade Malherbe may not have said their last word in the race for the League 1. Even if the 7 points behind the Girondins, the 6 on Metz can seem like a chasm so close to the end, Ligue 2 is famous for not being stingy with surprises.
