Metz vs Marseille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-08-17 19:00.
Metz suffered a nightmare return to Ligue 1 after a one-year absence, as they were on the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing from Rennes on the opening weekend. Despite having the Ligue 2 Golden Boot holder Georges Mikautadze in their ranks, coach Laszlo Bölöni alluded to the need for offensive signings after the game, stating that they were lacking "a few kilograms, especially in the final third."
With their 5-0 loss against PSG on the final matchday of the 2021/22 season, the Maroons are on a streak of two consecutive heavy defeats in the top-flight, and this meeting with Marseille, who finished third last season, does little to inspire optimism. However, this match could turn out to be closely contested, as four of the last five H2Hs have ended in draws (L1).
Despite significant summer offensive signings such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ismaïla Sarr, Marseille relied on their winter acquisitions Vitinha and Azzedine Ounahi to come from behind and beat Reims 2-1 in the opening match of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season. New coach Marcelino stated post-match that he was "satisfied", but the 11 shots conceded led him to add that they needed to "improve defensively".
Aubameyang soon made his presence felt with a brace in midweek against Panathinaïkós, but couldn't prevent Marseille from exiting the UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round on penalties. As they travel to Metz just three days after that demoralising loss, physical recovery will be the key factor if the Olympians are to end their worrying streak of three consecutive top-flight away losses.
Players to watch: Metz will hope Mikautadze can find the net given they avoided defeat in all 17 games he scored in last season (W14, D3). After conceding a penalty and missing his own spot-kick against Panathinaikos, Mattéo Guendouzi could redeem himself by putting his team on the right track, as he scored Marseille’s first goal with his last five strikes.
Hot stat: Each game of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 opening round either saw both or neither side score.