For the current cycle, beIN Sports have the rights to broadcast one game per matchday, often one of the bigger fixtures in the gameweek, on Saturday afternoon. However, despite securing those rights and broadcasting once a week, they are yet to submit their first payment, which was due to be paid on 30th August. That payment is said to be worth 24% of the €80m sum to be paid across the entirety of the campaign. 

After Lyon gave the LFP a final notice in an incendiary letter earlier this week, Le Havre have gone a step further. As per L’Équipe, HAC president Jean-Michel Roussier has let it be known that, if beIN Sports were to be scheduled to broadcast one of his team’s Ligue 1 matches, he would not allow the broadcaster into the Stade Océane, preventing them from broadcasting the fixture.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The 31-year-old midfielder suffered a stress fracture in his foot towards the end of last season. It had been hoped that the key man would be ready for the start of the campaign for Brest, however, that was not the case. He does now return to the squad although it is highly unlikely that he will start. 

Abdallah Sima, author of a memorable performance in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, is absent. No reason has been provided for his absence from the matchday squad as of now. It is Ludovic Ajorque who will start up front for Brest, with Mama Baldé out on the right and Mathias Pereira Lage on the left. 

Brest likely lineup v Le Havre

Marco Bizot; Massadio Haïdara, Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Brendan Chardonnet, Kenny Lala; Hugo Magnetti, Edimilson Fernandes, Mahdi Camara; Mathias Pereira Lage, Ludovic Ajorque, Mama Baldé. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The former Olympique de Marseille, Swansea City, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest forward joined Le Havre midway through last season on a short-term deal. His five goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances helped Luka Elsner’s side retain their top-flight status, however, it wasn’t enough to convince the Normand club to extend his deal.

But in his absence, HAC have struggled to score goals. Only Toulouse FC, Montpellier HSC, AS Saint-Étienne, SCO Angers and RC Lens have scored fewer than Le Havre’s seven in the league so far. It is within this context that the club have re-signed Ayew. 

Ayew had stated a desire to remain with Le Havre and his wish has now been made a reality. He has signed a deal that runs until the end of the season. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

L’Équipe reports that Bruno Genesio is set to make one change to his team who drew with the Racing club last time out. This one change is set to come at right back with Thomas Meunier set to drop to the bench and Tiago Santos to be reinstated into a starting berth. Aissa Mandi and Bafodé Diakité are set to start at the heart of defence. 

In midfield, André Gomes and Benjamin André are set to start in a double pivot with England international Angel Gomes to start in a more advanced attacking role. 

Lille likely XI vs Le Havre: 

Lucas Chevalier –  Tiago Santos, Bafodé Diakité, Aissa Mandi, Gabriel Gudmundsson – Andre Gomes, Benjamin André – Rémy Cabella, Angel Gomes, Edon Zhegrova – Jonathan David. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Génésio stated, “It’s obviously good [that Mbappé is back], it’s an area of the pitch where we really need [support].” The teenager’s presence had been missed as Lille are in the midst of a burgeoning injury crisis with Génésio unable to call on Samuel Umtiti, Ismaily, Nabil Bentaleb, Ngal’ayel Mukau and Hakon Haraldsson who are all out for the foreseeable future. 

The lack of personnel has certainly not helped Lille as they travel to the Stade Océane in worrying form. The club are looking to end a run of five games across all competitions without a victory after they drew their last game (against RC Strasbourg Alsace) and lost the others. 

The club will be hoping that the match against Le Havre will help the club build up some momentum ahead of the visit from Real Madrid on the 2nd of October, a game that had been billed as the clash of the Mbappé’s, although Kylian Mbappé’s (25) injury has scuppered that. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

AS Monaco backed up their midweek UEFA Champions League triumph over Barcelona with a hard-fought victory over Le Havre AC (3-1), which puts them joint-top of Ligue 1. 

The Match

It looked like it would be a comfortable afternoon for Monaco, who were dominant in the opening exchanges and took an early lead through Jordan Teze, who latched onto Takumi Minamino’s across goal to net his first for his new club. Perhaps Monaco thought it would be comfortable too because they decreased their intensity, which allowed Le Havre a route back into the match.

Having gained a foothold in the game, Les Ciel et Marines gained in confidence and got their equaliser on the half-hour mark through Daler Kuzyayev. There was no immediate reaction from Monaco as both sides headed back to the dressing room level at a muted Stade Louis II.

Things almost got worse for the Principality club. Casimir thought he had given Le Havre the lead after latching onto Yassine Kechta’s brilliant through ball, but the goal was disallowed for a very marginal offside by VAR. Monaco would make the most of that reprieve, albeit not immediately.

As the half continued, Les Monégasques’ press became more organised and more aggressive. Wilfried Singo pressed well to win the ball back and feed substitute Eliesse Ben Seghir, whose effort from the edge of the box found the top corner. Monaco’s third also came from some good pressing, this time from Denis Zakaria, who having stolen it off the toes of Oussama Targhaline, fed George Ilenikhena, whose pass into the box was finished first time by Folarin Balogun. A much-needed goal for the USMNT forward, who got his first of the season.

The quick-fire double knocked the wind out of Le Havre, who fall to back-to-back defeats in Ligue 1, whilst Monaco avoid the European hangover to go level on points with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Köhn – 4

Caio Henrique – 5

Thilo Kehrer – 6

Jordan Teze – 7

Wilfried Singo – 7

Another strong performance from the Ivory Coast international both defensively and offensively. It was his interception high in the Le Havre half and driving run that allowed Les Monégasques to unblock the organised and compact Ciel et Marine defence. 

Aleksandr Golovin – 5

Lamine Camara – 4 

Replaced by Eliesse Ben Seghir (7) at half-time, who made his impact, netting Monaco’s second sublimely. 

Soungoutou Magassa – 3

He made an error early in the encounter and struggled to recover from it and get his game back on track. Having also picked up a booking in the first half, he made it easy for Hütter to change him at the break. His replacement, Denis Zakaria (6), brought his authority to the midfield, something that was sorely lacking in the first half, and it was his intervention that led to Monaco’s third goal.

Takumi Minamino – 5

Folarin Balogun – 6

Despite his lack of goals, Balogun has played well this season, especially in build-up and in terms of his defensive work. Those strengths were once again on show, but it looked like being another afternoon where the goal escaped him. However, despite missing chances, he kept going and was rewarded. His finish was instinctive and should allow him to recover some of that confidence in front of goal that has deserted him in recent weeks. 

George Ilenikhena – 5

Selected Le Havre player ratings 

Josué Casimir – 6

Abdoulaye Touré – 6

Yassine Kechta – 7

With Le Havre on the back foot for much of the campaign, he found touches limited but he used what little possession he did have to brilliant effect, putting through two brilliant through balls. One was finished by Casimir, only for a tight offside to deny him.

Daler Kuzyayev – 6

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco

Photo credit: AS Monaco / Icon Sport

L’Équipe reports that Adi Hütter is set to make three changes from his team that defeated Barcelona 2-1 in midweek. Monaco are set to make one change in defence, with Caio Henrique to be preferred to Vanderson who started against the Blaugrana. Hutter is set to keep a double pivot of Lamine Camara and Denis Zakaria. 

In his attacking quadrant, the Les Monégasques manager is set to make two changes. Folarin Balogun is set to lead the line with Breel Embolo dropping to the bench. Maghnes Akliouche is also set to be benched as Aleksandr Golovin is to be promoted to the starting eleven. 

Monaco likely XI vs Le Havre: 

Philipp Köhn – Wilfried Singo, Thilo Kehrer,  Mohamed Salisu, Caio Henrique – Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Eliesse Ben-Seghir, Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino – Folarin Balogun. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

It came as a surprise that the defender remained at the club over the summer, despite interest from around Europe. It was therefore a surprise to see that, having retained Étienne Youté, he was then absent from the matchday squad to face AJ Auxerre at the start of this month. 

New manager Didier Digard explained the situation after the 3-1 win over AJA, stating that the defender had essentially been ostracised due to his contract situation. “You know the financial situation at the club. We can’t afford to lose players on a free,” said Digard, amid a situation in which Étienne Youté was refusing to sign an extension to his current deal, which was set to expire at the end of the season.

Étienne Youté signs until 2026

“We need to add value to our players and these are the players that keep the economy going at the club. Étienne knows the situation. It is very clear. He was allowed to leave, he either didn’t find a taker or refused. Now, we have other players available who are ready to give everything and add value,” added Digard,

As a result, Étienne Youté has remained on the fringes at Le Havre. Only through signing an extension would he be re-integrated into the first-team set-up. With the transfer windows across Europe now closed, the centre-back has now signed a new deal. He has extended by one year, tying him to Les Ciel et Marines until 2026.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Étienne Youté (22) was a surprise omission from Le Havre AC’s matchday squad to face AJ Auxerre on Sunday. Speaking after Les Ciel et Marine’s 3-1 win, Didier Digard provided an explanation for his absence. 

Youté, who joined Le Havre from Olympiacos for a nominal fee back in January 2023, has gone on to become a key member of one of the most resolute defences in Ligue 1. Under Luka Elsner, he played 24 times for Le Havre last season, as the Normand club ended the domestic campaign with the eighth-best defence record in France’s top flight. 

Despite a plethora of other youthful and impressive centre-backs, Youté continues to be a crucial member for HAC; that was until Sunday, at least. After starting both of Le Havre’s first two games of the season, Youté wasn’t even in the squad to face Auxerre, and Digard has now explained his surprise absence. 

“You know the financial situation at the club. We can’t afford to lose players on a free. We need to add value to our players and these are the players that keep the economy going at the club,” began Digard before detailing the specific situation of Youté, whose current deal expires at the end of the season. 

“Étienne knows the situation. It is very clear. He was allowed to leave, he either didn’t find a taker or refused. Now, we have other players available who are ready to give everything and add value,” added the Le Havre manager, who said that it is only through signing an extension that Youté will be re-integrated into the first-team fold. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The 21-year-old has made a total of 37 appearances in Ligue 1, which included a loan move to Bordeaux during which he played 28 times, scoring three goals, and providing one assist from right-back. “Although he hasn’t yet managed to force his way into the team, he is now fully fit and has trained consistently”, Sunderland Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said. “The next step is for him to play regularly in a competitive senior environment, and we believe this move will allow him to do that before returning to Sunderland next summer.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval