Lyon vs Metz prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-08-22 19:05.
[p]After improving their financial situation to avoid an imposed relegation to Ligue 2 this summer, Lyon took full advantage of their reprieve by opening the 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign with a win at Lens, and now look to follow that up against Metz. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Despite the significant summer losses of Rayan Cherki and Lucas Perri to the Premier League, Lyon have done a good job of holding on to several of their other important players after finishing sixth in Ligue 1 last season. Lyon will need those key men firing on all cylinders here considering they’ve lost their first home league game of the season in each of the last two campaigns – as many as in their previous 30 (W21, D7, L2)! Metz could be the perfect opponent to snap that run against, as Lyon earned seven points from a possible nine at home to the division’s newly-promoted teams last term.[/p]
[p]The visitors here will be somewhat downhearted as their immediate return to Ligue 1 started frustratingly with a 1-0 defeat against Strasbourg, but conceding only once against a side that finished seventh last season can offer some solace for the newcomers. The Maroons won’t be too disheartened by hitting the road in an attempt to win their first game of the league campaign, as they’ve won six of their last eight competitive away games (D1, L1). This trip most certainly represents their toughest test yet but collecting more points on the road (17) than at home (12) in their last Ligue 1 campaign suggests they can never be written off on their travels.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Lyon have historically dominated this fixture in Ligue 1 (W47, D17, L28), but they’ve interestingly won none of the last three such H2Hs they hosted (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]None of Lyon’s last 16 Ligue 1 games ended level (W10, L6).[/p]
[p]On each of the last four occasions that Lyon have conceded first, they have lost.[/p]
[p]Metz have scored in each of their last nine competitive away games.[/p]
[p]Metz’s last seven away games saw both teams score. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Georges Mikautadze used to be Metz’s talisman, but he is now starring for Paulo Fonseca’s men and got the winner at Lens on matchday one with his only goal from his last six at club level to arrive before half-time. Metz’s Gauthier Hein will hope to announce his return from suspension in style given six of his last eight competitive goals came on the road. [/p]
[p]Lyon appear to have no fresh injury concerns at the time of writing, while for Metz, Jessy Deminguet went off with an issue against Strasbourg.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given that Metz have now lost their last five regular-season games in Ligue 1, backing Lyon to win seems sensible.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]