Angers v Le Havre: safety buffer meets survival push | OneFootball

Angers host Le Havre in Ligue 1 at Stade Raymond Kopa on Saturday, 18 April 2026, with both sides seeking breathing space above the drop zone.

Le Havre took the reverse fixture 2-1 in January, but the broader picture is tight: Angers sit 13th on 33 points, with Le Havre 14th on 29 and the pack beneath still in play.

Form points to a cagey contest. Angers have one win in five league games, drawing with Lyon but losing at Rennes and Lens. Le Havre arrive unbeaten in three after draws with Auxerre, Nice and Lyon, following defeats to Brest and Paris FC.

Injuries bite on both sides. Angers list Haris Belkebla, Arcus Carlens, Yassin Belkhdim, Harouna Djibirin and Marius Courcoul as sidelined. Le Havre report Abdoulaye Toure and Felix Khonde Mambimbi out.

Tactically, Angers have been low-scoring this season, with 25 league goals, 42% average possession and no goals from set pieces, but they have kept 10 clean sheets. Le Havre lean heavily on wide delivery, producing 485 open-play crosses at 22.06% accuracy and five headed goals, and have won more aerial duels than Angers (428 to 329). Issa Soumaré has nine goal involvements this term and could be central to that route.

A home win would move Angers to 36 points and further from the relegation picture. Victory for Le Havre would lift them to 32 points and strengthen their cushion above the relegation play-off and bottom two.