Menu
Friendlies ClubsSeason 2026

Le Havre vs RED Star FC 93

25 July 2026 at 17:00
AI

Le Havre came from behind to beat Red Star FC 93 2–1 at Centre technique de Soquence, with Fodé Doucouré and Yanis Zouaoui scoring second-half goals to overturn Cissé's opener.

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How it unfolded

Red Star, playing their fifth friendly of the summer, struck first. Cissé opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, capitalising on a set-piece situation to beat Le Havre goalkeeper Mathieu Argney.

Le Havre head coach Didier Digard fielded a completely different XI in each half, a pattern he also used in the opening friendly against Amiens. The first-half side — captained by Rassoul Ndiaye — created chances through Mbwana Samatta (27th minute) and Ndiaye himself (38th), but could not find the net before the break.

The turning point

The second-half team injected urgency. The equaliser came in the 57th minute: Bouneb turned provider, feeding Doucouré who smashed a superb half-volley past the Red Star goalkeeper. The goal lifted the hosts, who had struggled to break down a well-drilled Red Star side in the first period.

Le Havre pushed for a winner. Bentoumi went close twice (58th, 79th), Bouneb tested the keeper again (78th), and Diabaté had a sight of goal (80th). The breakthrough arrived in the 83rd minute when Zouaoui's cross from the flank sailed directly into the net — a centre-tir that caught the goalkeeper off his line and sealed the comeback.

Key performers

  • Fodé Doucouré — introduced at half-time, scored the equaliser with a composed half-volley and gave the second-half side a focal point in attack.
  • Yanis Zouaoui — also a half-time substitute, his 83rd-minute cross-shot decided the game with a moment of opportunism.
  • Bouneb — played the decisive pass for Doucouré's goal and was a persistent threat, creating multiple chances after the restart.
  • Cissé (Red Star) — scored the opener and led the line well for the visitors, who had the sharper start.

Player of the match: Fodé Doucouré

By the numbers — interpreted

Detailed match statistics (possession, shots, xG) were not published for this fixture, which is common for pre-season friendlies at this level. The scoreline alone — 2–1 with all three goals in a 50-minute window — suggests a game of two distinct phases: Red Star controlled the first half and led deservedly at the break, while Le Havre's second-half XI dominated the final 45 minutes. Digard's rotation policy means the tactical picture is less about a single game plan and more about squad evaluation across the full 90 minutes.

What it means

This was Le Havre's second pre-season outing, following a 2–1 loss to Amiens on 17 July. The win gives Digard's squad a morale boost as they build towards the Ligue 1 season, which kicks off on 21 August. Red Star, who had beaten Orléans 3–2 on 21 July, suffered their second defeat of pre-season after a 1–0 loss to Troyes on 18 July.

Le Havre's next scheduled friendly is against Ipswich Town on 4 August. Red Star continue their preparation with a match on Tuesday 28 July against an opponent yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

Verdict

A routine pre-season comeback, but one that told Digard more about his squad depth than a one-sided win would have. The second-half XI — featuring new signing Vincent Sasso and returning midfielder Amir Richardson as captain — looked sharper and more cohesive, suggesting the competition for starting places is healthy. Red Star, further along in their preparation, will be frustrated they could not hold their lead.

Rivalry since 2015

Le Havre vs RED Star FC 93 Head to Head Results· 6

Le Havre and RED Star FC 93 have met 6 times — Le Havre won 2, RED Star FC 93 won 2, with 2 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2015. A combined 9 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 1.50 per match (4 for the home side, 5 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (33%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (17%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Le Havre are currently unbeaten in the last 4 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–1 in 2016.

Drawn
2
·
Total goals
9 · 1.5/match
Both scored
2/6 · 33%
Over 2.5
1/6 · 17%

Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

API data: 26 Jul 2026