Clermont vs Metz Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Clermont vs Metz on and what time does it start? Clermont vs Metz will take place on Sunday 27th August, 2023 – 14:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Clermont vs Metz? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Clermont vs Metz on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Clermont vs Metz
Where can I stream Clermont vs Metz in the UK? If Clermont vs Metz is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
CLERMONT
Each season since they were promoted back into the French top-flight in 2020, Clermont have been heavy favourites relegation, especially when the relegation places were increased to four teams last season. However, each season, under the management of Pascal Gastien, they have either survived or being extremely comfortable, especially proven by their eighth placed finish last year.
They have this season, though, started very poorly with back-to-back comfortable defeats against Monaco and Stade Reims. Firstly they began with a 4-2 loss at home to Monaco before Reims cruised past them at the weekend by two goals to nil with Marshall Munetsi and Mohamed Daramy scoring the goals for Will Still’s side.
METZ
Metz, in controversial but eventually fair and correct circumstances, gained automatic promotion to the top-flight of French football last season, finishing as Ligue 2 runners’ up to Le Havre. Under the management of the very experiences former Panathinaikos and Romania manager Laszlo Boloni, they have come into this season as one of the strong favourites for an immediate return down to the second-tier.
Les Grenats began the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign with a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of an impressive Stade Rennais side. They did make the game 1-1 mid-way through the first-half but it was never a match they were necessarily competitive in. They have since shared a 2-2 draw with Olympique de Marseille in a game whereby they trailed, went down to ten men, managed to take a lead but ended up sharing the spoils.
THE TEAM NEWS
CLERMONT
Pascal Gastien is without two players for this weekend’s encounter due to injury with Elbasan Rashani and new signing Maximiliano Caufriez also out for the upcoming match.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Diaw; Seidu, Wieteska, Pelmard; Zeffane, Gonalons, Gastien, Neto Borges; Cham, Allevinah; Kyei
UNAVAILABLE: Rashani (Injured), Caufriez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
METZ
Following promotion last season, as Metz search for a winning formula, they will be without both Matthieu Udol and Ablie Jallow due to injury and they will also be without the suspended Ababacar Lo.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Oukidja; Colin, Traore, Alakouch, Cande; N’Doram; Mbaye, Maziz, Jacques, Sabaly; Mikautadze
UNAVAILABLE: Lo (Suspended), Udol (Injured), Jallow (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These are two sides that are expected to struggle throughout the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign and it would be a surprise to see either or both of them escape any danger at the end of the season. Clermont are perennially favourites for the drop and, this time, have finally actually started the campaign in poor form. Metz were annihilated on the opening day but did earn a creditable draw last weekend. They will both see this is an excellent opportunity to steal the points so both teams scoring, therefore, looks a good bet for this one.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
