Metz vs Strasbourg prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-09-23 11:00.
A solid start to the Ligue 1 campaign across the opening four rounds (W1, D2, L1) was enough for the top brass at Metz to reward boss Låszló Bölöni with a new deal until 2025, a kindness he immediately repaid with a 1-0 win at Lens following the international break. Their eight-point haul is already five better than their last top-flight campaign when they suffered relegation in 2021/22, fuelling hopes of a smooth survival bid this time around.
Metz havenât been defeated at the Stade Saint-Symphorien in over a year in all competitions (W8, D8), but worryingly their two top-flight games this season saw them drop points from winning positions (D2). Those two results mean Metz have won just twice across their last 12 Ligue 1 home contests (D5, L5), which probably accounts for their outsider status at home to a Strasbourg side with one point less so far this season.
Patrick Vieiraâs Strasbourg have endured a relatively solid start to their league campaign (W2, D1, L2) as they look to build on last seasonâs 15th-placed finish. Things looked rather bleak last weekend as they went in 2-0 down at half-time against Montpellier, yet the old footballing adage âitâs a game of two halvesâ rang true as they found a way to level the game late in the contest.
Building on that comeback with an away win will be easier said than done, with Strasbourg managing just two victories across their last 12 such trips (D3, L7), a run bookended by a pair of defeats âto nilâ and five goals conceded to begin their away league campaign this season. Perhaps the short trip for this âDerby de LâEstâ could be the cure for their travelling woes as they seek a third straight away H2H win in this fixture, which would mark the first time they would have achieved that feat since the first-ever H2H in 1935/36!
Players to watch: Ăscar Estupiñån made his Metz debut after making the loan switch from Hull last weekend and he will hope to prove similarly influential in France, after scoring match winners in four of his last seven scoring league appearances. He could look to Strasbourgâs Lebo Mothiba for inspiration, as heâs already scored two goals this season which have secured one win and a draw for his club.
Hot stat: Strasbourg are one of only two Ligue 1 sides yet to score before half-time ahead of the round.