Le Havre v PSG preview: top meets bottom, and Luis Enrique warns 'every time we've faced weaker teams, we've had problems'
Ligue 1 leaders PSG go to winless Le Havre on Friday night on a five-game winning run, but without Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (ACL) and Marquinhos. Luis Enrique has ruled out emergency signings and praised young options Senny Mayulu and Mika Godts.
Ligue 1 matchday nine starts on Friday 30 October with the league's top team away at its bottom team. Le Havre v Paris Saint-Germain is at the Stade Océane on Friday evening.
The table
| Le Havre | PSG | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Bottom | 1st, 17 points from eight games |
| League wins | None | — |
| Last game | Lost 4-3 to Marseille | Beat Lyon 2-0 |
| Coach | Didier Digard | Luis Enrique |
PSG have won five games in a row in all competitions, including a 4-2 win over Barcelona in the Champions League and the 2-0 win over Lyon — see PSG 2-0 Lyon. Rennes are second.
Luis Enrique: "We've had problems"
PSG's coach did not treat it as an easy trip.
"Being top of the table is an incentive to keep winning," he said. But he warned: "Every time we've faced teams considered to be weaker, we've had problems." On Le Havre's attack: "It's a test and a challenge for us... They cause problems with their centre-forward and their wingers."
PSG team news
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is out for the season with the ACL injury he suffered against Barcelona — see PSG's injury list.
- Marquinhos is out with a thigh problem.
- Luis Enrique has ruled out emergency transfers to replace Kvaratskhelia.
- He praised the young options he already has, singling out Senny Mayulu and Mika Godts, who both scored against Lyon.
Le Havre team news
Didier Digard is without Stephan Zagadou, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, Timothée Pembélé and Elias Jelert.
Le Havre showed against Marseille that they can score goals — three of them — but they also conceded four, and they are still waiting for their first league win of the season.
Three things to watch
1. Life without Kvaratskhelia. The first league game since the injury was confirmed tells us how Luis Enrique will set up his attack for the coming months.
2. Mayulu and Godts. If both start again, PSG's front line will be very young.
3. Le Havre at home. A bottom side with nothing to lose, and a coach in Luis Enrique who openly worries about these games.
FAQ
When is Le Havre v PSG? Friday 30 October, in the evening, at the Stade Océane.
Is Kvaratskhelia playing for PSG? No. He is out for the season with an ACL injury suffered against Barcelona.
Where are PSG and Le Havre in Ligue 1? PSG are top with 17 points from eight games. Le Havre are bottom and have not won a league game.
Who is Le Havre's coach? Didier Digard.
