Metz vs Monaco 30/08/20

30 August 2020

Metz launch their Ligue 1 season against Monaco at the Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien this weekend, fancying the prospect of posting back-to-back wins in their top-flight H2Hs for the first time in the 21st century.

Low scoring has been a theme for Metz this calendar year, as six of their nine Ligue 1 fixtures have contained under 2.5 goals, with four featuring under 1.5 goals. Also, going back to September 2019, their home league matches have been notably tight, with ten of 12 seeing the sides separated by under 1.5 goals at FT (W4, D4, L4). Against this backdrop, three of Metz’s last four home Ligue 1 games have seen over 2.5 goals and both sides score. Still, the ‘clean-sheet’ theme could as well decide the winner of this encounter, given all four of their previous top-flight H2Hs held at this venue have witnessed the winning side shut out the loser (W1, L3).

Meanwhile, Monaco came back from two goals down to clinch a 2-2 draw with Reims in the curtain-raiser only to extend a winless league run to four, last season included (D3, L1). Away from home in Ligue 1, ‘Les Monégasques’ have been an exciting team to watch this calendar year, as all of their five trips have seen both sides score, with four producing over 2.5 goals (W1, D2, L2). But, Niko Kovač’s men had shown they know how to put up a fight on the road last season before the coronavirus outbreak halted proceedings in France. Indeed, 11 of their 14 Ligue 1 away games in 2019/20 ended separating the sides by under 1.5 goals.