Preview: Metz vs Lille Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Ligue 1 2025-26
Desperation meets crisis as Metz host Lille at Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Stade Saint-Symphorien hosts a tense Friday night collision this week. Two clubs fighting vastly different psychological battles lock horns. Bottom-of-the-table FC Metz entertain a Lille side that currently sit fifth. However, the visitors arrive in Lorraine stuck in a total tailspin in 2026.
Benoît Tavenot’s men sit anchored to the foot of the division. They are enduring a torrid winter.
The Grenats have failed to secure a single point in their last three outings. Defensive frailty undermines every attempt to climb away from the relegation trapdoor.
Their most recent match was a narrow 1-0 loss to Angers. That result highlighted a recurring inability to turn possession into anything dangerous.
Captain Gauthier Hein remains the solitary spark in an otherwise blunt attack. He often cuts a frustrated figure as teammates fail to provide support around him.
Lille, conversely, travel with damaged pride. Bruno Génésio has watched his squad fall apart since the turn of the year. They have lost five out of the last four league fixtures.
Strasbourg’s recent 1-4 thrashing of the visitors made their shattered confidence plain for everyone to see. Even the experience of Olivier Giroud up front has done little to stop the bleeding. The midfield struggles to control the game or protect an exposed backline.
History favours Les Dogues. They thrashed Metz 6-1 in their last meeting back in October. However, current momentum, or the lack of it, levels the playing field.
Lille still have better individual quality. Even so, Tavenot will likely tell his players to exploit the obvious nerves in the visitors’ ranks.
Three points on Friday would offer a massive lifeline to Metz. For Lille, anything less than a win risks turning a slump into a full-blown emergency.
Kick-off:
- Location: Longeville-lès-Metz, France
- Stadium: Stade Saint-Symphorien
- Date: Saturday, February 7
- Kick-off Time: 1:15 a.m. IST
- Referee: Guillaume Paradis
- VAR: In use
Form:
Metz: L-L-L-L-D
Lille: L-W-L-L-L
Players to watch out for:
Gauthier Hein (FC Metz)
Gauthier Hein is still the heart of Metz’s attack. He takes on most of the team’s creative work. He has played 18 matches this season and has six goals so far.
That total is a bit better than Hein’s expected goals (xG) of 5.18. On top of that, his four assists and 6.99 average rating show how much he does for a side that is currently struggling.
Hakon Haraldsson (Lille)
Hakon Haraldsson has had a great season for Lille. He has a solid 7.14 average rating across 18 games. The forward has scored five times, a total that exceeds his 4.31 expected goals (xG).
He has also chipped in with one assist. Haraldsson’s ability to finish chances will be huge for the away team.
Match Facts:
- Metz conceded 46 goals in 20 league matches – the worst record in Ligue 1.
- Jonathan Fischer leads Ligue 1 in saves per match with four.
- Lille scored just three goals in their last five matches.
Metz vs Lille Betting Tips and Odds:
- Lille to win: 1.73 as per Parimatch.
- Total goals over 2.5: 1.60 as per Parimatch.
- Both teams to score – Yes: 1.68 as per Winmatch.
Injuries and Team News
Unavailable players for Metz: Jean-Philippe Gbamin (suspension).
Unavailable players for Lille: Ousmane Touré (injury), Thomas Meunier (injury), André Gomes (injury), Nabil Bentaleb (injury), Ethan Mbappé (injury), Hamza Igamane (injury), and Osame Sahraoui (injury).
Head-To-Head stats:
Total matches: 103
Metz won: 31
Lille won: 45
Draws: 27
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Metz Predicted Starting Lineup (4-1-2-3):
Jonathan Fischer (GK) – Koffi Kouao, Jessy Deminguet, Terry Yegbe, Fodé Ballo – Benjamin Stambouli – Believe Munongo, Boubacar Traore – Gauthier Hein, Habibou Mouhamadou Diallo, Giorgi Tsitaishvili.
Lille Predicted Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Berke Özer (GK) – Tiago Santos, Nathan Ngoy, Aissa Mandi, Romain Perraud – Benjamin André, Ayyoub Bouaddi – Ngal Ayel Mukau, Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, Felix Correia – Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Match Prediction:
Lille should finally end their recent slump. Metz’s terrible defence leaves them wide open to quick counter-attacks. Even if the home side manage a goal, Lille’s attackers are simply much better.
A 1-3 away win looks like the most likely result for this Friday night game.
Prediction: Metz 1-3 Lille
Telecast Details
India: N/A
UK: Ligue 1 Pass
USA: beIN SPORTS
Nigeria: MBS Sports
What time does the Metz vs Lille match kick off?
The Ligue 1 fixture is scheduled to start at 19:45 UTC on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Which players are unavailable for both teams due to injury or suspension?
Metz will miss Jean-Philippe Gbamin due to suspension and Pape Sy through injury, while Lille’s lengthy absentee list includes Thomas Meunier, Osame Sahraoui, and Hamza Igamane.
Where can fans in the UK watch the live broadcast of this game?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can stream every Ligue 1 McDonald’s match, including this encounter, live via the dedicated Ligue 1+ platform.
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