The stage is set at the Stadium de Toulouse as Toulouse FC prepares to host Le Havre AC in a highly anticipated Ligue 1 clash on November 2, 2025. With both sides demonstrating flashes of brilliance and resilience in the early stages of the 2025/2026 season, this encounter promises to be more than just another fixture. It’s a mid-table battle that could define the trajectory for either club as they aim to solidify their standing in France’s top flight. Toulouse, currently sitting 9th, will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage against a Le Havre side, positioned 11th, who have shown a remarkable resurgence in form. Can Toulouse extend their dominant head-to-head record, or will Le Havre continue their upward momentum and secure a rare away victory in the Pink City?
Head-to-Head: A Storied Rivalry Favors Toulouse
Historically, matches between Toulouse and Le Havre have often tilted in favor of the home side. In their previous 8 meetings, Toulouse has emerged victorious 5 times, while Le Havre has secured 2 wins, with 1 match ending in a draw. A broader look at 11 past meetings shows Toulouse winning 8 times, Le Havre twice, and one draw. Toulouse has scored a total of 17 goals against Le Havre’s 8 in these 8 encounters.
Recent Meetings (Last 5 Matches):
- **February 23, 2025:** Le Havre 1 – 4 Toulouse
- **September 15, 2024:** Toulouse 2 – 0 Le Havre
- **March 10, 2024:** Le Havre 1 – 0 Toulouse
- **November 5, 2023:** Toulouse 1 – 0 Le Havre
- Prior to these, Toulouse secured a 2-0 home victory and a 4-1 away win in their last two clashes before today’s match.
Notably, Toulouse has not lost in 8 of their last 9 home league matches against Le Havre and has scored in their last 5 home league matches against them. Their most recent encounter saw Toulouse convincingly win 4-1 away from home.
Current Form & Team News
Toulouse FC
Toulouse enters this match in mixed but generally strong form, particularly at home. They sit 9th in the Ligue 1 table with 14 points from 10 matches. Their last five league matches show a form of: L-D-W-W-D. They recently displayed impressive fighting spirit, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw at home against Rennes. This result extended their unbeaten home run in the league to three matches, having claimed points in four of their five home games this season. Toulouse has been scoring freely at home, netting multiple goals in six consecutive league contests at Stadium de Toulouse.
Team News (Toulouse):
- **Injuries:** Niklas Schmidt is out with a cruciate ligament injury, and Ilyas Azizi is also injured. Rafik Messali is nearing full fitness from an ankle issue but remains questionable.
- **Standout Players:** Charlie Cresswell has been in good scoring form, with three goals in his past five home Ligue 1 games. Aron Dönnum also netted against Rennes, his third of the league campaign. Frank Magri is the team’s top scorer with 4 goals, while Yann Gboho has 3 goals and 2 assists.
Le Havre AC
Le Havre arrives in Toulouse on the back of an excellent run, securing back-to-back Ligue 1 victories. They are currently 11th in the league table with 12 points from 10 matches. Their last five league matches indicate a form of: W-L-D-D-D. They recently secured a 1-0 home triumph against Brest, following another 1-0 away win against Auxerre. This two-match winning streak has seen them keep successive clean sheets, a feat they could extend to three for only the second time this century. Le Havre has been described as a team that plays aggressively and excels at breaking up transitional moments.
Team News (Le Havre):
- **Injuries/Doubts:** Mbwana Samatta is doubtful due to a leg strain, and Andy Logbo is unlikely to feature because of a shoulder injury. Arouna Sangante, who scored the winner against Brest, is also a doubt, and Reda Khadra suffered a groin injury recently, making his participation doubtful.
- **Standout Players:** Arouna Sangante scored his first goal of the season in their last match. Issa Soumaré and Rassoul Ndiaye are their top scorers with 3 goals each. Issa Soumaré has scored three goals this term, two of them between the 40th and 50th minutes.
Tactical Preview
Toulouse, under Carles Martinez, is expected to deploy a more attack-minded approach, potentially lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Their focus will likely be on exploiting the flanks with players like Aron Dönnum and Yann Gboho supporting central striker Frank Magri. Toulouse’s ability to score multiple goals at home suggests they will press high and look to create numerous chances, particularly with their league-leading five penalties awarded this season. Their midfield, featuring Cristhian Cásseres Jr and Abu Francis, will be crucial in controlling the tempo and supplying the attacking line.
Le Havre, managed by Didier Digard, is likely to adopt a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on defensive solidity and quick transitions. Their recent clean sheets highlight an improved defensive organization, with players like Arouna Sangante and Gautier Lloris at the back. The midfield battle, potentially involving Abdoulaye Touré and Ayumu Seko, will be key to disrupting Toulouse’s attacking rhythm and launching counter-attacks. Le Havre averages the second-most fouls per match in the league, indicating their aggressive style.
The match will be played at Stadium de Toulouse, providing a familiar environment for the home side. As the match is on November 2nd, the weather conditions are unlikely to be extreme but could potentially be cool, which generally favors a fast-paced game. There’s no specific information regarding travel fatigue for either team, as both are playing within France’s top league.
