Metz vs Reims prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 – Relegation – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-05-20 18:00.
[p]The Ligue 1 promotion/relegation play-off final is familiar territory for Metz, who’ll be looking to avenge last year’s 4-3 aggregate defeat to Saint-Étienne and return to the top-flight. Should they do so against Reims here, the Maroons will experience their 11th change of league next season since dropping down to the third tier of French football for the 2012/13 campaign![/p]
[p]Metz earned their place in this play-off firstly via a third-place finish in Ligue 2, before a dramatic 1-0 victory courtesy of a 93rd-minute winner against Dunkerque in the semi-finals secured their spot. The home fans will be confident their side can get off to a bright start in the tie, not only because StĂ©phane Le Mignan’s men have lost just once at home in the league this season (inc play-offs – W11, D6), but also because Metz are unbeaten in their last 15 home games against Reims dating back to 1975 (W8, D7).[/p]
[p]Reims face an ultimate three-game stretch to define their season, as sandwiched between the two legs of this play-off is the Coupe de France final against Ligue 1 winners PSG! Samba Diawara’s men might still be stunned that their seven-season stint in the top-flight is now under threat, as not only did they concede an 86th-minute penalty to lose 2-1 to Lille on the final day, but that coupled with Le Havre’s 99th-minute spot-kick winner to beat Strasbourg 3-2 is why they ended the campaign in 16th. [/p]
[p]That was Reims’ 12th league defeat in 2025, the third-highest tally across France’s top two divisions, only behind the bottom side in each respective league. Another loss here could be fatal for the Red and Whites, as no side who has lost the first leg has gone on to win the tie since the play-offs were reintroduced in 2016/17. [/p]
[p]Key battle: Both sides will be looking to their top scorers this season for inspiration. A Cheikh Sabaly goal for Metz tends to bring good fortune since they’ve never lost when he’s been on the scoresheet (W12, D5), but Reims possess the firepower of Keito Nakamura, who has scored 12 of his 16 goals for them on the road. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ten of Metz’s last 11 matches have seen both teams score and over 2.5 total goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]