Laval vs Boulogne Prediction

Contrasting recent patterns

Laval have won one of their seven league games so far this season, drawing two and losing four, and they've shipped fourteen goals in that spell. Boulogne have barely lost at all by comparison, drawing five of their seven and conceding just five, but they've only managed three goals themselves.

Laval: 20 completed matches; Boulogne: 20 completed matches.

Laval

20 matches

Win

35% 7 / 20

Draw

25% 5 / 20

Loss

40% 8 / 20

Scored

29

Conceded

32

Difference

-3

Boulogne

20 matches

Win

10% 2 / 20

Draw

40% 8 / 20

Loss

50% 10 / 20

Scored

13

Conceded

29

Difference

-16

It's a classic mismatch of styles. One team is loose but occasionally threatening, the other is solid but blunt.

Laval look more likely to leak chances, Boulogne look more likely to struggle for goals.

Comparative Team Statistics: Laval vs Boulogne

Recent meetings split

The last two league meetings have gone a win apiece. Laval won the reverse fixture back in May, while Boulogne had taken the points in the previous season's meeting. Going further back, the head-to-head record between these two is fairly even across their shared Ligue 2 and Ligue 3 history.

Two teams fighting the same battle

Laval sit eighteenth with five points from seven games, Boulogne one place above them on the exact same tally. The goal difference tells a different story though - Laval are at minus six, Boulogne at minus two - which fits with the form patterns of a leaky home side against a tighter away one.

Same points, different problems - Laval need to stop conceding, Boulogne need to start scoring.

Key men and discipline

E. Clavreul has been Laval's main attacking presence, chipping in with two goals and three assists in six appearances, so he's the one most likely to create something for the hosts. On the discipline side, both teams have already had a red card in this sample - Boulogne's M. Mion and Laval's S. Bane - which hints at a couple of niggly afternoons along the way.

Laval:

Best scorers:

E. Clavreul - 2

Best assist providers:

E. Clavreul - 3

Penalty cards:

S. Bane x 1

Boulogne:

Penalty cards:

M. Mion x 1 x 1

T. Brusco x 1 x 1

A. Hbouch x 2

How this one might unfold

Given Laval's defensive record this season, Boulogne might fancy nicking a goal even with their limited scoring output. But Boulogne's own attack has barely fired all season, so it wouldn't be a shock if Laval's extra bit of firepower at home proves the difference in a low-key, scrappy contest.

With both sides sat on identical points and similar recent form, this has the makings of a nervy game rather than a one-sided one.