Metz vs Lille Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Metz are badly struggling in Ligue 1 as the hosts now welcome an out of form Lille side to Stade Saint-Symphorien on Friday night.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / US – beIN Sports Connect
Metz preview: Struggling Metz
Following promotion to the French top-flight last season, Metz have endured a miserable campaign throughout. They begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting two points adrift of the relegation playoffs and eight points behind adrift of outright safety in Ligue 1.
The home team come into this one on the back of a slender 1-0 loss to Angers at Stade Raymond Kopa last weekend. Metz have now succumbed to four successive defeats across all competitions and they are destined for relegation.
Lille preview: Under pressure Lille
Lille begin the match day sitting tucked inside the top five in Ligue 1 but the pressure is massively growing on Bruno Genesio after the northerners succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Olympique Lyonnais in their most recent outing last weekend.
That result means that Lille, who were even on the verge of a French title race a couple of months ago, have now suffered six defeats in seven matches across all competitions since they returned from the mid-season winter break.
Metz team news: Gbamin suspended
Having been sent off last weekend, former Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin is now missing through suspension for Metz ahead of the visit of Lille.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Fischer; Koauo, Colin, Yegbe, Toure; Munongo, Stambouli, Traore; Hein, Diallo, Tsitaishvili
Unavailable: Sy (Injured), Gbamin (Suspended), Mangondo (Injured)
Questionable:
Lille team news: A few injuries
Lille are dealing with a few injuries for this one, with the injury list including Thomas Meunier, Nabil Bentaleb and the brother of Kylian, Ethan Mbappe.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Ozer; Santos, Ngoy, Mandi, Perraud; Mukau, Andre, Bouaddi, Correia; Fernandez-Pardo, Haraldsson
Unavailable: Toure (Injured), Meunier (Injured), Bentaleb (Injured), Sahraoui (Injured), Igamane (Injured), Mbappe (Injured)
Questionable:
Metz vs Lille prediction
Metz will believe they can pose a threat to Lille, especially after they have pulled off some of their best results and performances against the strongest sides in France. That said, though, Lille should still come out on top in this one in a likely underwhelming and low quality, low-scoring encounter.
Metz vs Lille tip: Lille to win & under 3.5 goals
