Metz vs Rennes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-05-03 17:00.
[p]Metz sit in the relegation play-off spot with three rounds of the season to go, but given they’re level on points with Le Havre who sit a place above them in safety, they’d be wise to look upwards rather than at a Lorient side just three points behind them in 17th. It’s all pointing towards a nervy conclusion, although being in the mix for promotion or relegation is nothing new for Les Grenats who have either gone up or down 14 times since the turn of the century.[/p]
[p]After back-to-back wins over Lens and fellow strugglers Le Havre had given them plenty of cause for optimism, László Bölöni’s side were beaten 2-1 at home by European hopefuls Lille last week. The defeat means Metz have lost seven of their last nine league games at the Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien and could well struggle to turn that run around against a Rennes side they have beaten just once in their last 20 H2Hs (D7, L12).[/p]
[p]The Red and Blacks are targeting a seventh successive victory over Metz and the last three games have been particularly one-sided with Rennes scoring 14 times and conceding just twice! As a result, the long trip west could be just the tonic for Julien Stéphan’s team who are ending the season in poor form with defeats in five of their last six games across all competitions.[/p]
[p]Although they won their last away game, Rennes come into this match on the back of a remarkable 5-4 home defeat against Brest last Sunday. The loss means they will begin this gameweek in ninth place, four points from the final European spot, and in desperate need of a victory to keep hopes alive of a seventh successive European campaign next season.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: The goalscoring exploits of Georges Mikautadze are likely to be crucial to Metz’s chances of survival given he has found the net in the last four games and has scored Metz’s last six goals! Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo is also a man in form, opening the scoring in the last two matches while also striking first in the last H2H.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: This season, Metz have kept clean sheets at home against only bottom of the table Clermont and struggling Le Havre (W3, D3, L10).[/p]