Metz vs Lorient Prediction & Betting Tips - Ligue 1

Prediction published on 02/02/2024, 07:30  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 04/02/2024 at 01:00 in Ligue 1 Prediction

A crucial bottom-half battle in Ligue 1 will unfold this weekend, with Metz playing host to Lorient on Sunday afternoon. The hosts are currently in 15th place in the league standings, while the visitors are at the foot of the table. Having returned to the top flight this season, Metz look as though they are going to battle to stay up unless they can find some form in the second half of the campaign. They are currently on 16 points after 19 matches, just one point above Clermont Foot, who are the first side below the dotted line. The Maroons had a very poor end to last year, and things have not gone well in 2024 so far, either. They lost their last match 1-0 to Nice last weekend, which marked their sixth consecutive league loss. Metz have not won a match since November and have failed to score in five of their last six games. As a result, it comes as little surprise to note that they are the lowest-scoring team in the league this season with 16. The hosts have won only one of their nine home games this season and are looking to avoid a fourth straight loss in this one. 

While Metz could find themselves in the drop zone by the end of this weekend, Lorient have been languishing at the bottom of the league standings for the majority of the season. After finishing tenth last term, Les Merlus would have started the current campaign with aspirations of drawing closer to the top six, but things have gone terribly poorly. They have managed only 13 points with half the season complete and are already four points from safety. Lorient played out a 3-3 draw against newly promoted Le Havre last week, which was their 11th match without a victory and followed five consecutive losses, including a 2-1 defeat against lower league outfit Sochaux in the Coupe de France. In ten away games this season, the visitors have taken just three points, all by way of draws, meaning they are winless on the road this term. They are the clear underdogs in this one.