PSG vs Metz Preview – Visitors look to avoid automatic Ligue 1 relegation
Metz take the challenge to League Leaders PSG – Saturday action from the Parc des Princes at 9:00pm GMT.
Leaders PSG are currently 17 places higher than their opponents Metz, when the two sides meet, they will sit in first and eighteenth positions respectively.
League leaders Paris Saint-Germain will seek to win every game, this game is no exception
PSG need a positive result from this game, if they are to move their season forward. Their last match resulted in a loss to Montpellier, before that they drew away to Troyes, 2-2.
Also, League leaders PSG keep finding ways to win, having secured 11 victories in their last 17 meetings is astonishing this season, which has contributed significantly to rise up the top of the table. They are the team to beat, with 83 points and sitting at the top of the table (current record: 25W – 4L and 8D) having won 25 fixtures, drawn eight matches, and lost four games.
PSG will welcome Metz to the Parc des Princes, safe in the knowledge that their home record this season is outstanding. This is further strengthened by their good home results, as they have won 15 games and drawn three fixtures in the 18matches they’ve played so far this season.
The ultimate prize this season will be for Paris Saint-Germain to finish top of the Ligue 1 and secure automatic qualification for the Champion’s League. However, they must play each game as it comes and secure the points, if that is to be achieved.
Good atacking and defensive team
It’s an easy statement to make, but to win you simply have to score more goals than your opponent. PSG have been consistently applying this principle, whilst remaining defensively solid as a unit this season, with 36 goals in their previous games. PSG will be pleased to have a good goal scoring record so far this season (85). This is largely down to the efforts of their stand-out attackers – Kylian Mbappe (16), Neymar (9), and Lionel Messi (5).
Mauricio Pochettino could be missing up to six of their players through injury or illness for the game on Saturday.
Travelling FC Metz will have promotion hopes alive
Another victory would be a terrific achievement, but that is what Frederic Antonetti will be asking from his team, as they go into this game on the back of strong results after beating Angers SCO 1-0 and Lyon 3-2
Also, Frederic Antonetti’s Metz have lost nine of their last 18 meetings this season. Now they have 6 matches won, 18 games lost and 13 duels drawn; that’s why they currently sit in eighteenth place, with a total of 31 points having won six games, drawn 13 meetings, and lost 18 matches.
Metz now travel, knowing that their current away form is woeful. So far this season they have won three fixtures, drawn six matches, and lost nine matches matches on the road.
Winning this fixture will see FC Metz on 34 points.
Metz are missing seven players through injury or illness. This will affect Frederic Antonetti’s selection choices significantly.
Paris Saint-Germain v FC Metz – Head-to-Heads.
Regarding their historical duels PSG and Metz have faced each other 37 times in the past, with the balance of wins sitting in PSG’s favour (26 – 6). Additionally, PSG recent form against Metz has been outstanding, winning on twelve out of the last 19 fixtures. The last time both teams met in this competition The Maroons secured a 1-2 away win.
Other players of note for PSG are Neymar and Lionel Messi with nine goals and five goals respectively and for Metz are Didier Lamkel Ze and Louis Mafouta with three goals both.
