Two teams with just five points between them come together here, as the team sitting bottom of Ligue 1 in Metz host Le Havre in an early-season contest between relegation candidates.
Match News and Current Form
Metz have made a truly awful start to their return to Ligue 1, suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat to Monaco last week to make it four defeats and a draw in their five matches. That extends the Maroons’ winless streak in the top-flight to nine games (D1, L8), the longest such run of any current team, but perhaps returning to the comforts of the Stade Saint-Symphorien can help stop the rot, since they’ve lost just two of their last 21 home matches in all competitions (W11, D8).
Le Havre have fared slightly better, picking up four points thanks to an eye-catching 3-1 win over Nice and a 1-1 draw to Lorient last time out. Two of their three defeats have worryingly come in their only two games on the road this campaign by an aggregate score of 4-1, but perhaps this is the match to break that duck, considering that the visitors haven't lost any of their last ten away Ligue 1 matches against promoted clubs (W6, D4).
Head-to-Head History
Metz have desperately struggled in recent H2Hs, winning just two of the last 13 encounters in all competitions (D6, L5). The last four Metz-held H2Hs have produced just four total goals.
Win ProbabilityOpta by StatsPerform
Hot Stats and Streaks
Metz have conceded the final goal in each of their five games this season.
Six of Metz’s last eight home league matches saw both teams score.
Le Havre have scored in 19 of their last 20 Ligue 1 games.
There have been over 2.5 goals in seven of Le Havre’s last nine away games.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Metz’s best path to glory may be through set-pieces taken by Gauthier Hein, as seven of his last ten goals have come from either the penalty spot or direct free-kicks. Le Havre have Issa Soumaré to thank for their point against Lorient after he netted the equaliser, continuing his streak of scoring nine of his last ten goals after half-time.
Metz defender Sadibou Sané will be serving the last of his three-match suspension here, while Le Havre will be sweating over the fitness of Yanis Zouaoui, who didn’t feature against Lorient.
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