Football Bet of the Day: Le Havre in danger on final day

We’ve got the final day of the Ligue 1 season over in France coming our way, and my focus for Saturday’s Football Bet of the Day is taken by Strasbourg, as they host relegation-threatened Le Havre (20:00). Liam Rosenior’s side sit sixth but could finish as high as fourth in the hunt for Europa League football next term. 

Read on to find out my predictions for this crunch clash at both ends of the table.

Rosenior has done a sterling job over in France since his move from Hull City, and he isn’t hanging about this transfer window, as Burnley centre-back CJ Egan-Riley looks set to join the club on a free transfer. 

Strasbourg are a club with big ambitions, and they need to be reckoned with having drastically improved on their 13th place finish last term. Now they sit level with both Nice and Lille on 57 points, and just ahead of Lyon on 54 as they all compete for the final European spots. Fourth will guarantee themselves a place in the Europa League next season while the Conference League awaits for fifth and sixth. 

Football Odds

If Rosenior ends up in Europe it will be a major achievement for him, and their test on Saturday night comes in the form of a Le Havre outfit that are fighting for their lives to retain their Ligue 1 status. They currently sit in 16th, in the relegation play-off position, but Saint-Etienne are just one point behind them and could relegate them if results go their way. 

Les Verts host Toulouse on the final day, and will fancy their chances of landing a big three points, whIle Le Havre have a very tough test in the form of Strasbourg away. Le Racing have been astonishingly good at Stade de la Meinau this term, winning 10, drawing five and losing just once in front of their own fans. 

That’s given them the third-strongest home record in the division, and they’ve only picked up six fewer points on home soil than PSG have. It means Le Havre, who have six wins on the road in fairness to them, face a big task to survive on Saturday. 

Strasbourg vs Le Havre Odds

What I will back the away side to do is score, however. Both teams have found the net in 13 of their last 14 matches, and they’ve found the net against PSG, Monaco and Lyon during that time. They aren’t a bad side going forward, but defensively they have seriously struggled with 69 goals conceded in 33 league games so far. 

Ultimately, I think this final game of the regular season will follow the same pattern, especially when you consider the fluidity the Strasbourg have played with this campaign. They’ve hit 54 goals this term and beat PSG 2-1 in their last home game so I am more than comfortable to back them to win this game and both teams to score. 

It should be an intriguing final day over the English Channel, but I think a defeat could land Le Havre in serious trouble. Rosenior’s men are heading to Europe with a win, and his CV continues to get stronger and stronger.