Strasbourg vs Le Havre: Late Penalty Secures 1-0 Win – Full Match Preview and Lineups

Team News and Predicted Lineups

The Alsace side went into the match without the dynamism of winger Dilane Bakwa, who had left for Nottingham Forest after an explosive start – 1 goal and 2 assists in just 105 minutes. Coach Frédéric Rosenior opted to reshuffle his flanks, promoting youngster Loris N'Goma to replace Bakwa’s duties while sticking with the defensive solidity of Youssouf Assouik.

Le Havre, riding high after a 3-1 home win over Nice, fielded the same core that produced the goals of Fode Doucoure, Rassoul Ndiaye and Issa Soumaré. Their back‑four remained unchanged, and the midfield trio of Charles Mendes, Jordan Robert and veteran Mohamed Fofana was tasked with containing Strasbourg’s quick transitions.

Predicted lineups:

• Strasbourg: R. Haug (GK), L. N'Goma, S. Tomb, M. Bounte, E. Vologa; C. Doudou, R. Silva, J. Panichelli; M. N'Diaye, P. Leclerc, H. Yib.
• Le Havre: G. Lemoine (GK), A. Hamed, D. Koffi, J. Doucoure, P. Laran; C. Mendes, J. Robert, M. Fofana; F. Doucoure, R. Ndiaye, I. Soumaré.

Match Summary and Tactical Takeaways

The encounter between Strasbourg vs Le Havre turned into a tactical chess match. Strasbourg, sitting sixth after three rounds, leaned on their home advantage – they had dropped only one point from eleven Ligue 1 home games this season. Le Havre, occupying eleventh, entered as a pseudo‑bogey team; they had avoided defeat in five of the last six away fixtures at the Meinau, a streak dating back to December 2023.

Both managers emphasized compact shape. Rosenior instructed his side to sit deep, allowing the visitors to press high while his midfield sat between the lines, ready to launch quick counters. Le Havre’s Didier de Riviere countered with a high block, attempting to force errors from Strasbourg’s full‑backs. The first 30 minutes saw a flurry of aerial duels but no clear chances.

Strasbourg’s early pressure yielded a chance in the 22nd minute when Panichelli’s low drive clipped the post after a neat one‑two with M. N'Diaye. Le Havre replied through a well‑timed run from Doucoure, whose shot from the edge of the box forced a fine save from Haug.

The midfield battle intensified after the half‑hour mark. Le Havre’s Mendes attempted long balls to exploit the space behind Strasbourg’s right flank, but the Alsatians’ compact defensive line forced the ball back inside. The deadlock persisted until the 85th minute, when a set‑piece on the left flank was cleared only for the ball to fall to Panichelli inside the box, who turned and struck the post.

In the 90+1 minute, a handball by Le Havre’s defender inside the penalty area awarded Strasbourg a spot‑kick. Panichelli, who had been a key scorer in the earlier 2–0 lead against Monaco, stepped up and slotted the ball low to the left corner, sealing a 1–0 victory.

The win not only gave Strasbourg three vital points but also reinforced their reputation as a fortress at the Stade de la Meinau. Their home record now stands at eight wins, two draws and a single loss in 2025, a statistic that could prove decisive in the race for European spots.

For Le Havre, the narrow defeat is a setback but not a collapse. Their recent goal‑rich display against Nice shows they can find the net, and they still hold a psychological edge in recent meetings at Strasbourg. The team will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture against Lyon, where a more aggressive approach could restore confidence.