Dunkerque vs Laval Prediction 20.04.2026 | Ligue 2

USL Dunkerque head into Matchday 31 sitting in a modest 10th place in the Ligue 2 standings with a 40-point tally, although their recent trajectory suggests a side drifting through April, having suffered four defeats in their last six league outings.

The Maritimes return to Stade Marcel-Tribut still reeling from last weekend’s 2-1 away defeat to faltering giants Saint-Etienne, a result that further underlined their worrying defensive decline, with Dunkerque now having failed to keep a clean sheet in eight consecutive second-tier matches.

Despite their mid-table security, a chronic lack of attacking output has begun to weigh heavily on the northern outfit, as they have managed to score more than once in just one of their last seven Ligue 2 matches, a trend they will be desperate to correct if they are to halt their damaging run of form.

On the team news front, Spanish manager Albert Sánchez has few selection concerns, with only left-back Felipe Abner ruled out as he continues his recovery from a serious ACL injury, while Maedine Makhloufi is expected to step in as his replacement.

Stade Lavallois MFC travel to northern France firmly entrenched in a tense relegation battle, currently occupying the relegation playoff position in 16th place and sitting just a single point above the automatic drop zone as the Ligue 2 season moves into its decisive “money time”.

Despite their precarious standing, Les Tangos have proven difficult to beat during the spring of 2026, recently showcasing their resilience with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against high-flying Stade de Reims, extending their unbeaten run to three matches in the process.

However, defensive fragility has been a consistent issue throughout the campaign, with Laval conceding an average of 1.46 goals per match, although their cause has often been rescued by standout performances from goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa, who ranks among the division’s top-performing shot-stoppers and has frequently earned his side points they might otherwise have missed out on.

In terms of team news, both left-backs Layousse Samb and Ylies Aradj remain sidelined through injury, while centre-back Matteo Commaret could be deployed in a left-sided role within a potential 3-4-3 system.