Lyon vs Metz Preview: Team News & Prediction

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The ever chaotic Olympique Lyonnais have a smaller but still strong squad as they welcome newly-promoted and probable strugglers to Metz to Parc OL this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: 23 August 2025 at 8:05 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports

How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime PPV & Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect

Lyon preview: Streamlined Lyon

Over the summer, Olympique Lyonnais managed to avoid their administrative relegation due to financial reasons to Ligue 2 upon appeal, and they have streamlined their squad a touch with controversial owner John Textor relinquishing a bit of power and control.

Paulo Fonseca remains banned from the dugout as Lyon began their campaign with an impressive 1-0 victory away at Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, with Georgia international Georges Mikautadze scoring the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage-time.

Metz preview: Probable struggle

Metz have endured a lot of speculation over key players over the summer, but they were solid enough on the opening day of the campaign, albeit it still ended in defeat and the visitors are expected to struggle throughout the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season.

Metz welcomed a strong and youthful but big spending Strasbourg side to Stade Saint-Symphorien on the opening day of the campaign, and one of their new signings, Joaquin Panichelli, scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute.

Lyon team news: Main man Mikautadze

The trimming of the squad has included the retirement of Alexandre Lacazette, and that has sharpened the focus of Mikautadze, and he is now the main man and focal point at Lyon.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Descamps; Kumbedi, Clinton Mata, Niakhate, Abner; Morton, Tessmann; Maitland-Niles, Tolisso, Fofana; Mikautadze

Unavailable: Mangala (Injured), Nuamah (Injured)

Questionable: 

Metz team news: Couple of injuries

Ahead of their trip to Lyon this weekend, Metz are dealing with a couple of injury issues as both Joseph Mangondo and Malick Mbaye are sidelined for the visitors for this one.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Fischer; Sane, Gbamin, Mboula; Kouao, Traore, Stambouli, Deminguet, Tsitaishvili; Madjo, Sabaly

Unavailable: Mangondo (Injured), Mbaye (Injured)

Questionable: 

Lyon vs Metz prediction

Paulo Fonseca, along with the trimming of his squad, will be wanting to make Lyon a bit more serious and playing with a lot more maturity this season. They have a very good squad and can overrun most teams in Ligue 1 in terms of quality. Metz have shown they can be stubborn for progressive, possession-based teams, but that was with home advantage, and Lyon should get themselves over the line to kick off with back-to-back victories.

Lyon vs Metz tip: Lyon to win