If you had told a Le Mans fan back in 2013, when the club was literally dissolved and sent to the sixth tier, that they’d be sitting pretty in the upper echelons of professional French football again, they probably would have laughed—or cried. Honestly, the journey has been a mess. But as of mid-January 2026, the vibe at the Stade Marie-Marvingt is different. It’s electric.
Le Mans FC standings currently place them in 5th position in Ligue 2, and the math is getting very interesting. We are talking about 31 points from 19 matches. They just ground out a 1-1 draw against Rodez on January 16, a result that felt sort of frustrating but kept them right in the mix.
The current state of play for Le Mans FC
The table is incredibly tight. Only a few points separate the top five or six teams. Troyes is currently leading the pack with 38 points, while Stade Reims and Red Star FC are hovering just above Le Mans with 32 points each. Saint-Étienne is technically tied with Le Mans at 31 points, but the goal difference keeps things shifting every single week.
Patrick Videira, who took over the managerial reins in 2024, has turned this squad into a "difficult to beat" machine. They’ve only lost three league games all season. That’s insane. For context, even some of the teams above them have slipped up more often. The problem? They draw a lot. Seven draws in 19 games means they are leaving points on the table that could have them in an automatic promotion spot by now.
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Recent Form and Results
- January 16, 2026: 1-1 draw at Rodez (Frustrating, but a point on the road is a point).
- January 11, 2026: A massive win in the Coupe de France against Nancy. It ended 0-0 after extra time, but Le Mans dominated the shootout 4-1.
- January 3, 2026: A 0-0 stalemate against Saint-Étienne. A "six-pointer" that didn't really move the needle for anyone.
- December 12, 2025: A tough 1-2 loss to FC Annecy. This was a rare blemish in an otherwise solid winter run.
Who is driving the bus?
You can't talk about the Le Mans FC standings without looking at Dame Guèye. The Senegalese forward has been the focal point of the attack, netting 5 goals so far. He’s not exactly a 20-goal-a-season striker yet, but his holdup play is what allows the wingers like Lucas Calodat and William Harhouz to find space. Harhouz, by the way, is incredibly efficient; he has 4 goals despite having significantly fewer starts than the main guys.
Defensively, it’s all about Nicolas Kocik in goal. He’s played every single minute of the campaign—1,710 minutes if you’re counting. With 7 clean sheets and a save percentage sitting around 68%, he’s the reason those draws aren't losses. Behind him, Théo Eyoum and the veteran Samuel Yohou have formed a center-back partnership that actually looks stable, which hasn't always been the case for Le Mans in recent years.
Interestingly, the club got a weird boost in late 2025 when former F1 driver Felipe Massa joined as an investor. It sounded like a PR stunt at first, but the financial stability has allowed the club to keep hold of players like Lucas Buadés, who is arguably the highest-rated performer in the squad according to most statistical models.
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Statistical breakdown (The Nerd Stuff)
The team averages about 1.22 goals per game while only conceding 0.94. Basically, if they score first, they usually win. They are 5th in the league for "Big Chances Created" but also high up on the list for "Big Chances Missed." This suggests that the Le Mans FC standings would look even better if their finishing was just 5% sharper.
What most people get wrong about Le Mans
A lot of casual observers still think of Le Mans as a "National" (third division) side that’s just happy to be here. They aren't. This is a club with a 25,000-seat stadium and a history of Ligue 1 football. The infrastructure is light-years ahead of teams like Pau FC or USL Dunkerque.
There's also this misconception that they are a "selling club" now. While they did move some talent in the summer, keeping Théo Eyoum (valued at around €700k) despite interest from bigger clubs shows they are serious about the 2026 promotion push.
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The road ahead
The next few weeks are basically a gauntlet. They face USL Dunkerque on January 26, followed by a massive away trip to league leaders Troyes on January 31. If they can snag four points from those two, people will start talking about a return to the top flight very seriously.
Oh, and don't forget the Coupe de France. They have a Round of 16 clash against Stade Reims on February 3. It's a distraction, sure, but a deep cup run does wonders for the bank account and the morale of the city.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the "Under" markets: Le Mans is defensively solid but occasionally toothless. Most of their games are low-scoring affairs.
- Home is a fortress: They've only lost twice at the Stade Marie-Marvingt. If you're looking at the standings, their home form is what's keeping them in the top five.
- Monitor Dame Guèye's fitness: The drop-off in attacking threat when he’s off the pitch is noticeable.
The Le Mans FC standings reflect a team that is finally over its identity crisis. They aren't just "the club from the city with the race." They are a legitimate footballing force again. If you're looking for a next step to keep up with the team, check the local Sarthe news outlets on Monday mornings—they often get the injury updates before the big national sites even wake up. Follow the match against Dunkerque closely; it's the ultimate litmus test for their promotion credentials.