Lorient vs Metz prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2026-01-03 16:15.
[p]After rounding off 2025 with comprehensive Coupe de France victories, Lorient and Metz return to Ligue 1 action this weekend with the pair in drastically different form.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]A resounding 7-0 victory over lower-league opposition in the Coupe de France capped off an encouraging end to 2025 for Lorient, who are unbeaten across their last six matches in all competitions (W3, D3). Olivier Pantaloni’s newly-promoted side therefore start the round in mid-table and six points clear of the relegation zone, and can point to some very solid home form for their comfortable position. Lorient have lost just once at Stade du Moustoir since returning to the top flight (W4, D3), and are now chasing a first set of three successive Ligue 1 home wins since October 2022.[/p]
[p]Metz came up from the second tier with Lorient, but their season has followed a different trajectory, suffering a league-high 11 defeats (W3, D2) to sit bottom of the table. A flurry of three successive victories has been followed by four straight Ligue 1 losses for the Maroons, who at least showed plenty of fight with three of those defeats coming by one-goal margins. Boss StĂ©phane Le Mignan’s position is therefore back under pressure, but he could go a considerable way to relieving that by improving Metz’s fortunes on the road, where they’ve picked up just three points all season (W1, L7).[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Both H2Hs ended in draws last season, while the away side on the day won both Ligue 1 meetings in 2023/24. Victory for Metz here in November 2023 ended a run of six successive defeats when visiting Lorient in the top flight.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Lorient have conceded before half-time in only one of their last six games.[/p]
[p]Lorient have trailed at half-time in just one of their eight home matches this season.[/p]
[p]Metz have conceded 3+ goals in all seven of their away league defeats this season.[/p]
[p]Four of Metz’s last five Ligue 1 games saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]All six of Sambou Soumano’s goal contributions (G4, A2), and both of his yellow cards this season, have come in home matches. Giorgi Tsitaishvili has been involved in three goals for Metz this term (G2, A1), yet all three came in games that the Maroons lost 3-2![/p]
[p]While both squads are missing players due to the Africa Cup of Nations, neither appear to be suffering from any fresh injury concerns.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Looking at Metz’s defensive woes on the road this season, we’re backing Lorient to score 3+ goals and pile on the pain.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Tom Penn[/i][/p]