Olympique Lyonnais host Le Havre at Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu on August 29, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 18:45 local time. This second Ligue 1 fixture arrives at an important moment for the home side, who need an immediate response after losing 2-1 to Fenerbahçe on August 26 and missing out on the league phase of the Champions League. Lyon did begin their domestic campaign positively, however, securing a 2-0 victory away to Toulouse. Le Havre are also looking to recover from a defeat after opening their Ligue 1 season with a 1-0 home loss against Monaco. The visitors are still searching for their first points and first league goal, while Lyon will try to build on their successful start in the competition.

Olympique Lyonnais Recent Form and Key Stats

Olympique Lyonnais enter the weekend in fourth place in Ligue 1 after collecting three points from their opening match. Their early league numbers are straightforward: one victory, an average of 2.0 goals scored and no goals conceded. That clean sheet and two-goal return against Toulouse offered encouragement, particularly as the starting selection had been changed for the fixture.

The mood was altered by Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat against Fenerbahçe. Lyon had earned a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg, but they conceded twice before the half-hour mark in the return match. Malick Fofana reduced the deficit around the hour, yet Lyon could not find the equaliser required to force extra time. That result left them with two wins, one draw and two defeats across their last five matches. During that sequence, they averaged 1.6 goals scored and 1.0 conceded per game.

The broader scoring trends suggest that Lyon matches regularly produce more than one goal. Each of their last 11 matches has gone over 1.5 total goals, while the same outcome has occurred in their previous 12 home fixtures. There has also been at least one second-half goal in all 11 of those recent overall matches and in each of the last 12 played at home. These figures underline Lyon’s ability to remain involved in open contests and to influence games after the interval.

There are still some personnel questions. Khalis Merah and Julien Duranville, who missed the second leg against Fenerbahçe, remain doubtful. Malick Fofana’s situation also requires attention. Among the available options mentioned ahead of the match, Dominik Greif can feature in goal and Moussa Niakhaté in central defence. Zachary Athekame impressed after coming on against Fenerbahçe, while Mads Bidstrup, Kaïl Boudache and Loïs Openda provide further choices. Boudache was particularly lively during the second half on Wednesday and came close to scoring an equaliser.

Le Havre Recent Form and Key Stats

Le Havre arrive in 14th place after their 1-0 defeat against Monaco on August 23. They were unable to take a point despite home support and therefore begin this second round with no points, no goals scored and an average of one goal conceded in Ligue 1. Their recent record across five matches stands at one win, one draw and three defeats, with averages of 0.8 goals scored and 1.2 conceded.

The visitors had entered the league season with only one victory from their final four preparation matches, and their schedule has immediately placed them against Monaco and Lyon. The narrow nature of the opening defeat nevertheless shows that Le Havre were able to keep the score close. Goal totals in their matches have also been consistently restrained: 26 of their last 28 fixtures finished under 3.5 goals. Within Ligue 1, that pattern has appeared in 25 of their previous 27 matches.

Lionel Mpasi is the main option in goal following the departure of Mory Diaw, and he made several saves against Monaco. Ayumu Seko has taken on a leading role in defence after the departures of Arouna Sangante and Gautier Lloris. In midfield, Junior Mwanga and Amir Richardson are available. Richardson came close to scoring on his return to Le Havre, although his effort against Monaco was disallowed for offside. Sota Nakamura, Josh Maja and Ally Samatta are among the attacking options.

The visitors will be without Stephan Zagadou and Felix Mambimbi. Their absence adds another challenge before an away match against a Lyon side expected to react strongly. Le Havre’s limited attacking output is also significant: they have averaged fewer than one goal per game across their last five outings and did not score in their opening league fixture.

Olympique Lyonnais vs Le Havre Match Analysis

The central question is how Olympique Lyonnais respond to their European disappointment. The defeat against Fenerbahçe was damaging, but their 2-0 win at Toulouse showed that they can produce an effective domestic performance. Returning home gives Lyon an opportunity to restore confidence quickly and maintain their perfect Ligue 1 record.

The head-to-head information also supports the hosts. Across the recorded summary against Le Havre, Lyon have collected three wins, one draw and one defeat, scoring an average of 2.0 goals and conceding 1.0. The latest meeting was less decisive, ending 0-0 on March 15, 2026, so Lyon cannot assume that control will automatically translate into goals.

Le Havre’s long run of matches under 3.5 goals points towards a relatively controlled contest, but Lyon’s sequences of over 1.5 total goals and second-half scoring activity indicate that the game could become more expansive. The hosts have the stronger recent attacking average, while the visitors have lost three of their last five matches and remain without a Ligue 1 goal this season.

The available win probabilities give Olympique Lyonnais a 62% chance, compared with 21% for the draw and 17% for Le Havre. Lyon’s opening league victory, home advantage and positive head-to-head record make them the more convincing side, even with the short recovery period following their Champions League setback. Le Havre kept Monaco to a one-goal margin, but they may need greater attacking efficiency to avoid another defeat.

Olympique Lyonnais vs Le Havre prediction from BetMines: Olympique Lyonnais win (1) with 62% probability.