The Ligue 1 meeting at Groupama Stadium on Sunday will see home side Lyon prepare for the visit of opponents, Metz.
All Lyon v Metz game predictions, stats and user poll are shown below - along with the latest match odds.
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Form Guide
Lyon
WDWWWD 📈
Lyon enter this fixture coming off the back of a 2-2 Ligue 1 draw versus Rennes.
In that game, Lyon had 45% possession and 13 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target. For Lyon, the goalscorers were Memphis Depay (79') and Jason Denayer (82'). For their opponents, Stade Rennais FC had 14 shots on goal with 6 on target. Clément Grenier (20') and Benjamin Bourigeaud (55') scored for Rennes.
Three or more goals per game were seen in 5 of the past 6 meetings where Lyon have taken part. Opposition teams scored 7 of them in this period whereas Lyon totted up 15.
Taking a look at their past results, Lyon:
- have not been beaten in the league by FC Metz in their previous 8 matches. A decent run, indeed.
- have not been beaten in their last 13 league matches at home. What a fortress.
FC Metz
DWWLDD
In their previous game, Metz drew 1-1 in the Ligue 1 tie with Nice.
In that match, FC Metz had 43% possession and 16 attempts on goal with 5 of them on target. The only player on the scoresheet for FC Metz was John Boye (79'). OGC Nice had 11 shots at goal with 4 on target. Amine Gouiri (18') was the scorer for Nice.
A succession of dependable performances from the FC Metz defenders has resulted in their ‘goals against’ tally standing at 4 from their past 6 outings combined. In that time, their own forwards have managed to score 7. Putting that to one side, it remains to be seen whether that pattern might continue on in this match.
Going into this one, FC Metz have not won against Lyon in games played away from home for the previous 12 matches in the league. Not an away record to be proud of.
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Head to head
A study of their past head to head meetings going back to 05/04/2017 shows that these fixtures have not been kind to Metz. They’ve not been able to register any victories whatsoever whereas Lyon have been dominant against them, running out winners in 100% of those ties.
A sum of 18 goals were shared by the two clubs during those clashes, with 17 for Lyon and 1 being from Les Grenats. This gives an average number of goals per game equal to 3.
The previous league encounter between the two was Ligue 1 match day 13 on 06/12/2020 when it ended FC Metz 1-3 Lyon.
That day, FC Metz managed 45% possession and 12 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target. The scorer was Farid Boulaya (75').
Lyon got 18 attempts on goal with 5 of them on target. Memphis Depay (17') and Karl Toko Ekambi (47', 60') scored.
The match was refereed by Karim Abed.
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Team News: Lyon
Lyon boss Rudi Garcia has no fitness concerns at all coming into this clash with a fully healthy squad available for selection.
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Team News: Metz
Metz manager Frédéric Antonetti has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Manuel Cabit (Traffic Accident) and Ibrahima Niane (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) are names that won’t be on the team sheet.
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Prediction
We feel that in this game, Lyon should be able to create a decent number of chances and shots on target.
At the same time, Metz may well find it hard to score a goal of their own but we can see them scoring.
We’re therefore anticipating a controlled 3-1 win for Lyon at the end of this one.
Our expert partners are tipping over 1.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.
Andre Moura,
00:09 13/01/2021
🏟️ Team Focus:
Lyon
Formed: 1950
Stadium: Groupama Stadium (59,186)
Captain: Memphis Depay
Chairman: Jean-Michel Aulas
Manager: Rudi Garcia
Competitions: Ligue 1 position 1
⭐ Key Man: Karl Toko Ekambi
Regularly taking to the field in the Striker position, Karl Toko Ekambi was born in Paris, France. After having made a senior debut playing for Sochaux in the 2014 - 2015 season, the skilful Forward has managed 9 league goals in the Ligue 1 2020 - 2021 season so far from a total of 16 appearances.