Le Havre vs Auxerre Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Le Havre

vs

Auxerre

KickoffSunday 18 October 2026, 4:15pm

VenueStade Océane

CompetitionFrench Ligue 1

Two teams scrapping at the wrong end of Ligue 1, both short of confidence, both with problems across the pitch. That is the backdrop to this fixture at the Stade Oceane, and it makes for a genuinely fascinating watch if you can look past the league table anxiety. The question for bettors is simple enough: does Le Havre finally get off the mark at home, or does Auxerre grab something precious away from Normandy? Let’s dig into it.

Le Havre vs Auxerre Match Details

This is a round seven Ligue 1 fixture taking place at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre. Two sides who know the relegation scrap all too well go head to head in what could genuinely be described as a six pointer, even this early in the season. The stakes are real.

Team News

Both managers are pulling their hair out in the treatment room, with injury lists that would give any gaffer nightmares. Le Havre in particular are in crisis across their defensive unit, while Auxerre have problems at both ends of the pitch.

Le Havre:

• Felix Mambimbi (Achilles) out
• Lionel Mpasi Nzau (Achilles) out, meaning Gauthier Gallon keeps the gloves
• Abdoulaye Toure (knee) long term absentee
• Stephan Zagadou (knee) long term absentee
• Timothee Pembele (defence) ruled out
• Elias Jelert (defence) ruled out
• Ayumu Seko suspended after a red card against Lille last weekend

Auxerre:

• Bryan Okoh (knee) out
• Assane Diousse (knee) out
• Sekou Fofana (groin) out
• Remy Labeau Lascary (knock) out for a month
• Raya Mandengue out
• Telli Siwe (doubt)
• Clement Akpa (doubt)
• Marvin Saya (doubt)

Predicted Lineups

Didier Digard is genuinely short of options at the back. With Seko suspended on top of the long list of defensive absentees, he has roughly four senior defenders to choose from. That is not a comfortable position for a manager already without a league win this season. Expect him to name the strongest defensive unit he can cobble together, with Gallon protected by whoever is fit to play across the back four.

Le Havre: Gallon; Ouziad, Mwanga, Touba, N’Diaye; Ndiaye, Ebonog, Richardson; Nakamura, Maja, Samatta

Will Still has his own headaches to contend with, particularly in attack where Labeau Lascary and Mandengue are both absent. The back line could look patched up too if any of those defensive doubts fail to make it through to the weekend. Still will likely go with a structured shape and hope his front three can punish Le Havre’s depleted defence.

Auxerre: Diop; Makosso, Tuanzebe, Diomande; Sy, Piedfort, Danois, Oppegard; Namaso, Archer, Zossou

Recent Form

Le Havre’s situation is stark. Six games played in Ligue 1 this season and not a single win to show for it. They sit bottom of the table with just two points, and while their defensive record is not completely disastrous at eight goals conceded, the attacking output is genuinely alarming. Four goals in six games is the worst in the division. No other side has managed fewer. For a team that struggled in front of goal last season too, this is becoming a pattern rather than a rough patch. The narrow defeat away at Lille last time out did at least show some resilience, but coming away with nothing continues to be the story of their season.

Auxerre arrived at this campaign on the back of a nervous finish to last season, narrowly avoiding the drop. They actually showed real character mid season, losing each of their first three fixtures before reeling off back to back wins. That run offered genuine hope. Then came the international break, and whatever momentum they had built evaporated spectacularly. A 4-1 hammering at Rennes was damaging in more ways than just the scoreline. It exposed their defensive frailties again and confirmed that Will Still’s side are not yet the finished article. Sixteen goals conceded in six games is the worst defensive record in the entire division by three goals. That number is hard to ignore.

So what we have here is a team that cannot score hosting a team that cannot keep a clean sheet. On paper, that sets up for goals. In practice, home advantage and desperation matter too. Le Havre know a win here could drag them off the foot of the table. Auxerre know a defeat could bury them deeper into trouble.

Head-to-Head Record

History favours the hosts clearly here. Le Havre have won three of their previous four meetings with Auxerre, including a 3-1 victory at the Stade Oceane in the 2024 to 2025 campaign. That gives Digard’s players something real to point to when they look at their opponents this weekend.

Auxerre’s overall record against Le Havre is pretty grim reading for their fans. One win in nine previous meetings is a stat that stays with you. Whatever the current league positions say, this is a fixture where Auxerre have historically struggled, and turning that around while carrying so many injury concerns will be no easy feat.

Key Stats

• Le Havre have scored just four league goals in six games, the worst attacking output in Ligue 1
• Auxerre have conceded 16 goals in six games, three more than any other side in the division
• Le Havre have won three of the last four head to head meetings, including a 3-1 home victory in 2024 to 2025
• Auxerre have kept just one clean sheet in their opening six league fixtures this season
• Le Havre are the only side yet to win in Ligue 1 this term

Le Havre vs Auxerre Betting Tips

This is a strange one to call, and anyone who tells you it is straightforward is not paying attention. Two struggling sides, both badly hit by injuries, facing each other in a game that neither can afford to lose. The goals angle looks appealing given Auxerre’s defensive record, but Le Havre’s inability to find the net complicates things. Here is how I am framing it across the main markets.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) Prediction

Yes. It is hard to look at Auxerre’s defensive record of 16 goals in six games and back them to keep a clean sheet, even against a Le Havre side who are the lowest scorers in the division. The hosts will find something given the head to head record and home advantage, and Auxerre have shown enough threat in attack to get on the scoresheet at the other end.

First Goalscorer Prediction

Josh Maja is the pick here for Le Havre. He leads the line for the hosts and with Auxerre offering the leakiest defence in the division, a centre forward in his position should get chances. The head to head record suggests Le Havre will find a way through, and Maja is best placed to convert when they do.

Corners Prediction

Over 9.5 corners. Two teams who need goals and who press high when they sense an opportunity, plus a home side desperate to finally get a win on the board, should generate a decent volume of set pieces. Auxerre’s style when chasing games tends to create corner situations at both ends, and Le Havre will be attacking with urgency throughout.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Over 2.5 goals. Auxerre simply cannot defend at the moment, and while Le Havre are not prolific, the head to head record suggests they will score here. A match that finishes 0-0 or 1-0 is possible, but when you weigh up the defensive problems on both sides, the value is in backing goals.

Correct Score Prediction

2-1 to Le Havre. The home side have the head to head advantage, the crowd behind them and the desperation of a team still waiting for their first win. Auxerre will get on the scoresheet because they always seem to, but Le Havre nicking it here feels like the most likely outcome when you stack up all the factors.

Bet Builder Tip

A game between the two leakiest attacks and most vulnerable defences in the bottom half of Ligue 1 makes BTTS and over 2.5 a natural pairing, and Maja as first scorer adds the value on top of a combination that the underlying numbers firmly support.

Final Match Prediction

Le Havre 2-1 Auxerre. This has the feel of a game where the home side finally gets over the line. The head to head record strongly favours Les Ciel et Marine, the crowd will be right behind them, and Auxerre’s defence has been nothing short of a shambles this season. Yes, Le Havre are missing bodies at the back and their injury list is a genuine concern, but Auxerre are no better off and carry far worse defensive habits.

Digard’s men have shown enough defensive solidity over six games to suggest they can keep Auxerre to a minimum, and if Maja fires on home turf against a backline this shaky, a 2-1 win feels like the most logical conclusion to a fixture that both sides desperately need to win.

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