Metz vs Angers Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It has been a tricky return to Ligue 1, having gained promotion to the top-flight in French football last season, as they now welcome Angers to Stade Saint-Symphorien this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Metz preview: Poor start
Metz managed to defeat Stade de Reims in the end of season Ligue 1/Ligue 2 promotion/relegation playoff last year. They have started their return as one of the pre-season relegation favourites, and it has been a very poor start to the campaign.
The home team started with a 1-0 loss at home to Strasbourg on the opening day of the season, before they then suffered a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Olympique Lyonnais. They then lost 3-2 to fellow newly-promoted side Paris, too.
Angers preview: Avoiding second season syndrome
Under the management of Alexandre Dujeux, Angers gained promotion to the top-flight of French football during the 2023/24 campaign, and they managed to steady themselves mid-way through last year to ensure survival in Ligue 1.
So far in the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season, Angers have had a victory, a draw and a defeat. Their opening game saw them edge past the aforementioned Paris before then losing 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain. They then shared a 1-1 draw with Stade Rennais.
Metz team news: Sane suspended
Sadibou Sane, who had been heavily linked with Burnley, is missing through suspension, whist Cheikh Sabaly, heavily linked with Middlesbrough, is an injury doubt.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Fischer; Kouao, Colin, Gbamin, Yegbe; Stambouli, Traore; Tsitaisvhili, Hein, Abuashvili; Gueye
Unavailable: Sane (Suspended), Mboula (Injured), Mbaye (Injured)
Questionable: Mangondo (Injured), Sabaly (Injured)
Angers team news: Abdelli a doubt
Angers have no confirmed absentees ahead of the trip to Metz, with midfielder Himad Abdelli still a doubt due to a back injury, but they can name an unchanged eleven.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Koffi; Arcus, Camara, Lefort, Ekomie; Belkhdim, Belkelba; Raolisoa, Mouton, Cherif; Peter
Unavailable:
Questionable: Abdelli (Injured)
Metz vs Angers prediction
Metz have been reasonably competitive in their opening few matches, and they don’t really appear to be a team that will badly struggle this year, albeit they are expected to be in the battle, but they shouldn’t get cut adrift. They face an Angers side with home advantage and that represents a perfect chance for Metz to get themselves off the mark in a likely low-scoring affair this weekend.
Metz vs Angers tip: Metz to win & under 3.5 goals
