Metz vs PSG prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-05-18 19:00.
[p]Metz began this final Ligue 1 matchday of the season sitting in a precarious position, as a heavy loss at home to newly-recrowned champions PSG, coupled with results elsewhere, could yet see the hosts finish in the bottom two and suffer immediate relegation. Occupying 16th spot and the relegation play-off position, it’s still mathematically possible for the hosts to secure their safety or be automatically relegated, but with a three-point gap and enormous goal difference from 15th and 17th, moving either way appears unlikely. [/p]
[p]That’s before factoring in that Metz have lost each of the prior 13 Ligue 1 H2Hs against the Paris giants, whilst one more defeat here would equal the competition’s longest ever losing streak for one side against a particular opponent. There are a few positives that could see the hosts snap that streak this time around, namely the fact that they’ve now scored in each of their last 11 top-flight matches, the club’s longest such run since January 1995! [/p]
[p]Having lost three of their last five outings (W1, D1) across all competitions, PSG make the journey east looking to finish their own league campaign on a high in order to send off club legend Kylian Mbappé in style. With a French Cup final to come against Lyon, this likely won’t be his final match for the Parisiens, but he’ll nonetheless look to add to his 256 goals for the club before departing as PSG’s all-time top goalscorer.[/p]
[p]Manager Luis Enrique will also be keen for his defence to produce a high quality performance ahead of that final, as the away side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten competitive outings – their longest such run since April 2012. The visitors have also won just two of their prior six final games of a completed league campaign (D2, L2), another record they’ll be eager to improve in this clash. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Georges Mikautadze is Metz’ stand-out player this campaign, netting 13 goals across 19 league appearances. More recently, each of his last four acted as match openers. After struggling at first, PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos has struck six goals across his last ten league outings to finish this season in strong form.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Metz scored in both halves of just four of their 33 Ligue 1 matches this season – the joint-fewest in the competition. [/p]