The Ligue 1 Round 17 match between Lorient and Metz will take place on 4 january at Stade du Moustoir. Lorient vs Metz: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Lorient
Lorient in the last month of the year recorded two league matches without conceding for the first time this season. First, the team beat Lyon at home (1:0), then drew away with Strasbourg (0:0). Thus, the club's unbeaten run in the Ligue 1 has extended to five matches, with 2 wins and 3 draws. After those results, the club moved up to 12th in the table and is now 6 points clear of the bottom three.
- In the previous 10 Ligue 1 matches the team has won only twice (5 draws and 3 losses).
- No more than two goals were scored in 6 of Lorient's last 8 league games.
- The club is unbeaten at home in 6 consecutive Ligue 1 matches – 3 wins and 3 draws.
Potential Lorient Lineup (4-5-1)*
Yvon Mvogo – Jordi Makengo, Darlin Yongwa, Montassar Talbi, Bamo Meite – Arthur Avom, Theo Le Bric, Arsen Kouassi, Laurent Abergel, Pablo Paji – Sambu Sumano.
At the Africa Cup of Nations squad are forwards Aiyegun Tosin, midfielder Arthur Avom, and defenders Montassar Talbi, Darlin Yongwa and Arsen Kouassi.
Metz
Metz continue to occupy the bottom of the table, sitting 4 points behind the safety of 15th place. The team has lost each of their last four Ligue 1 matches, and in three games of that run they conceded three goals. In the previous round Metz narrowly lost at home to PSG – 2:3. The club also has the worst defensive record in the league with 37 goals conceded.
- The club has failed to win in 13 of its last 16 Ligue 1 matches (2 draws and 11 losses).
- At least three goals were scored in 7 of Metz's last 10 league games.
- The team conceded two or more goals in 9 of their last 10 away matches in the Ligue 1.
Potential Metz Lineup (4-4-2)*
Jonathan Fischer – Terry Yegbe, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Maxime Colin, Koffi Kuao – Bubacar Traore, Gautier En, Jessy Demenge, Georgiy Tsitaishvili – Malik Mbaye, Habib Diallo.
In national team duty are forwards Habib Diallo and Cheikhou Sabaly, and defenders Uri-Michel Mboula and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.
Referee
Guillaume Paradis (France)
Matches – 6 (the Ligue 1, 2025/26);
Yellow/Red Cards Shown (Including Second Yellows) – 24;
Average Yellow/Red Cards Per Match – 4;
Red Cards Shown – 0;
Fouls Average Per Match – 27;
Penalties – 17%.
Lorient vs Metz: Match Prediction
In the upcoming clash we expect at least an exchange of goals. After all, two of the opponents are among the worst defensively. The hosts concede an average of 1.75 goals, while the visitors' statistical figure is 2.3 goals.
Despite their low position in the table, Lorient are very strong at home, having suffered only 1 defeat there so far this season. It is worth noting that almost 4 goals are scored on average in the club's home Ligue 1 matches, and there was an exchange of goals in 6 of the last 7 home fixtures. Metz, although at the bottom of the table, found the net in 12 of their last 14 away league matches, and exchanges of goals occurred in 7 of the last 10 away games for the club in the Ligue 1.
In addition, both opponents scored in 7 of the last 8 head-to-head meetings in France's top flight. Therefore our forecast is Both teams to score.
Prediction: Both teams to score
* For each team the starting lineup from its previous match in this competition is shown.
