Verdict: Mika Biereth to score anytime
Best Odds: 6/5
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Getting the 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign underway on Saturday evening, Monaco will welcome Le Havre to the Stade Louis II.
Monaco
Starting with the hosts, clinching a bronze medal finish among France’s elite last season and storming their way to a lucrative Champions League return, Monaco will be confident of laying down an opening weekend marker here. Despite signing off the 2024/25 campaign with a 4-0 drumming at the hands of Lens, Ali Hutter’s side lost just a pair of their final 11 Ligue 1 appearances and they will be excited by a return to the Stade Louis II on Saturday evening. Pencilled in as a standout contender this weekend, Monaco also gained a real reputation for their domestic dominance on home soil. Including a 2-0 victory against domestic rivals Lyon on May 10th, Hutter’s camp registered 22 points from their final eight Ligue 1 showdowns.
Monaco Team News
While academy graduate Soungoutou Magassa might have been shown a final weekend red card away at Lens on May 17th, the 21-year-old is free to feature on Saturday evening. Although former Manchester United superstar Paul Pogo might have completed a free switch to Monaco this summer, it remains to be seen if the 32-year-old will play any part here.
Making a remarkable immediate impact after arriving from Strum Graz during the January transfer window, one-time Arsenal youngster Mika Biereth will play a leading role in the final third.
Le Havre
As for the visitors, clinging onto their Ligue 1 status back on May 17th as they secured a famous 3-2 victory away at Strasbourg, Le Havre will be desperately seeking smoother sailing this time around. However, although the Dean Club might have suffered just a single defeat from any of their final four top-flight appearances last season, Didier Digard’s side are once again pencilled in as a leading relegation candidate this year. Signing off their summer preparations with a 2-0 loss against Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna, Saturday’s guests look set for what is a stern examination here. Falling to a 3-1 defeat when they travelled to the Stade Louis II back in September, they have also registered just a single point from their last four trips to Monaco.
Le Havre Team News
Both still dealing with respective injury issues continuing on from last season, Le Havre will once again be without the duo of Oualid El Hajjam and one-time Lyon youngster Yann Kitala on Saturday evening.
Finding the net in all of his final four Eredivisie appearances last season before completing a summer switch from Dutch outfit Zwolle, new recruit Younes Namil will make his Ligue 1 debut here. Bagging an iconic final weekend brace against Strasbourg back in May, Abdoulaye Toure will start in the middle of the park.
Monaco vs Le Havre Key Factors to Consider
- When Monaco and Le Havre last met at the Stade Louis II back in September 2024, Saturday’s hosts collected a 3-1 victory.
- Monaco registered 13 points from their final five Ligue 1 home fixtures last season.
- Likewise, Monaco have not suffered a single Ligue 1 defeat at the Stade Louis II so far this calendar year.
- Le Havre have registered just a single clean sheet away from the Stade Oceane since the end of November.
- The Dean Club have registered just one-point from any of their last four trips to the Stade Louis II.
Conclusion
Storming their way to a lucrative Champions League ticket last season, Monaco will be looking to open proceedings with an early statement of intent. Pencilled in as a standout contender here, Saturday’s hosts will be excited by their extended dominance on home soil. Registering 13 points from their final five Ligue 1 appearances at the Stade Louis II, they also secured a 3-1 victory when they last welcomed Le Havre to town back in September 2024. Two camps who are expected to be scrapping it out at opposite ends of the table this season, it is no surprise that Monaco are smelling a real opportunity here.
Verdict: Mika Biereth to score anytime
Best Odds: 6/5
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
