Metz vs Le Havre prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-10-28 14:00.
Metz are in the midst of a sticky spell at the moment, with a four-match losing Ligue 1 run ensuring they enter this round in the relegation play-off spot. That losing run doesnât tell the full story according to boss Laszlo Bölöni, who claims three of those games should have seen his side claim a point, including their most recent one, a 2-1 defeat at Monaco last weekend.
That one probably stung the most for Bölöni, who could only watch on as his side took an early lead only to squander it before the hour mark. Thatâs already the third time this season that Metz have led in a league game and failed to win (D2, L1), a feat that will hurt all the more knowing had they not dropped those seven points they would actually be within the European spots!
On their first season back in the top-flight since 2008/09, Le Havre have given a solid account of themselves with a respectable nine game start (W2, D4, L3). The number of draws will be a slight concern for boss Luka Elsner, and it was coincidentally a stalemate they achieved in their last outing, drawing 0-0 against Lens, leaving Elsner with âsmall regretsâ his side couldnât put away one of their chances.
Thatâs been a problem Le Havre have faced throughout the season so far, as ahead of the round theyâve failed to score in a joint-league high four games, which all interestingly came in their last five matches. And while theyâve endured recent success in away H2Hs (W3, D1, L1), all of which came in Ligue 2, Le Havre will be acutely aware that their last three top-flight visits to Metz all ended in defeat âto nilâ.
Players to watch: Metzâs 19-year-old Lamine Camara is the only man to score across their losing run, with that being his first-ever professional goal. Mohamed Bayo was the last Le Havre player to score back in September and heâs interestingly made the score 2-0 on four of his last five goalscoring outings.
Hot stat: Ahead of the round, Le Havreâs away league games this term have averaged just 6.75 corners per game, Ligue 1âs second lowest number.