Although they were predicted to have a tough season, Les Ciel et Marine are doing rather well for themselves already, as they sit 12th in the French top flight – four points above the relegation play-off spot – and are unbeaten in their last four games. In fact, Didier Digard's men have suffered just one defeat in their last eight league outings, meaning that they could well go into tomorrow's match with ambition rather than inhibition.
Les Parisiens, meanwhile, remain at the top of the Ligue 1 table – two points ahead of their closest competitors – after picking up a pair of hard-fought and precious wins just before the international break: a 1-0 victory over OGC Nice thanks to Gonçalo Ramos's last-minute winner, followed by a 3-2 triumph away to Olympique Lyonnais, which was again sealed with the last action of the game.
0 – No team has picked up more points in Ligue 1 thanks to goals scored in second-half additional time than Le Havre (7) and Paris Saint-Germain (4) in 2025.
2 – Having kept two clean sheets in their last two games on the road in Ligue 1, Les Ciel et Marine have the chance to record a run of three straight away matches without conceding a single goal for the first time in the 21st century tomorrow.
4 – Les Parisiens have registered four clean sheets in their opening five home games in the French top flight this season, which is as many as they managed in their first 17 matches at the Parc in 2024–2025.
500 – If he plays tomorrow, Marquinhos will be making his 500th appearance for Les Rouge et Bleu across all competitions and his 318th appearance in Ligue 1 alone.
In goal, Mory Diaw is his manager's go-to option. Having come through the capital club's academy, the Senegal international will be able to rely upon a solid centre-back pairing in front of him, comprised of captain Arouna Sangante and teammate Gautier Lloris. These two key elements are expected to be flanked on the right by the experienced Loïc Négo and on the left by Yanis Zouaoui, but if Le Havre's coaching staff decided to shake things up by opting for a three-man central defence, France under-21 international Étienne Youté Kinkoué could well be the one to occupy this role.
In midfield, Abdoulaye Touré has become an indispensable part of his side's backbone and will in all likelihood be joined by Senegal international Rassoul Ndiaye, who has enjoyed a remarkable start to the season. Meanwhile, having joined the Normandy outfit from Grasshopper Club Zurich in the summer, Ayumu Seko is also expected to feature in his side's starting XI tomorrow.
As for Yassine Kechta, the box-to-box midfielder and HAC academy graduate may play slightly higher up the pitch to link up with a probable strike partnership of Felix Mambimbi and Issa Soumaré. While the former has found his form again since arriving in northern France, the latter has established himself as his team's main attacking asset, having notched up three goals and two assists so far in 2025–2026. So, Paris's rearguard certainly has its work cut out!