The Round 17 match of the Ligue 1 between Lorient and Metz will take place on january 4 at Stade du Moustoir. Lorient vs Metz: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Lorient
Lorient, coached by Olivier Pantaloni, in the final month of last year for the first time this season played two league matches without conceding a goal. First the home side beat Lyon 1:0, then the visitors drew with Strasbourg 0:0. As a result, the club's unbeaten run in the Ligue 1 grew to five matches, with 2 wins and 3 draws. After those results Lorient rose to 12th place in the table and moved 6 points clear of the trio of relegation candidates.
- In the previous 10 Ligue 1 matches the team has won only twice (5 draws and 3 defeats).
- No more than two goals were scored in 6 of the club's last 8 league games.
- At home the club is unbeaten in 6 consecutive Ligue 1 matches – 3 wins and 3 draws.
Potential Lorient Lineup (4-5-1)*
Yvon Mvogo – Jordi Makengo, Darlan Yongwa, Montassar Talbi, Bamo Meite – Arthur Avom, Théo Le Bris, Arsen Kuassi, Laurent Abergel, Pablo Pagis – Sambou Soumano.
The squad currently at the Africa Cup of Nations includes forward Aiyegun Tosin, midfielder Arthur Avom, and defenders Montassar Talbi, Darlan Yongwa and Arsen Kuassi. Defender Abdoulaye Faye and midfielder Panos Kanceris are out with injuries.
Metz
Metz continue to occupy the bottom of the table, sitting 4 points behind the safe 15th place. Coached by Frédéric Antonetti, the visitors lost their previous four Ligue 1 matches, conceding three goals in three of those games. Notably in the last round Metz nearly took a point at home against PSG, losing 2:3. The club also has the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 37 goals.
- The club has failed to win in 13 of its last 16 Ligue 1 matches (2 draws and 11 defeats).
- 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 its last 10 away Ligue 1 matches.
Potential Metz Lineup (4-4-2)*
Jonathan Fischer – Terry Yegbe, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Maxim Kolen, Koffi Kwahio – Bubacar Traore, Gauthier En, Jesse Demenge, Georgy Tsitaishvili – Malik M'Bayé, Habib Diallo.
The national team call-ups include forwards Habib Diallo and Cheick Doukoure, as well as 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) – 24;
Average Yellow/Red Cards Per Match – 4;
Red Cards Shown – 0;
Fouls Per Match – 27;
Penalties – 17%.
Lorient vs Metz: Match Prediction
In the upcoming match we expect there to be at least an exchange of goals. After all, these opponents are among the weakest 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 good at home and so far this season have suffered only 1 defeat on their own turf. It is worth noting that almost 4 goals are scored on average in the club's home Ligue 1 matches, and both teams scored in 6 of the home side's last 7 meetings. Metz, although at the foot of the table, have found the net in 12 of their last 14 away league matches, and there was an exchange of goals in 7 of the club's last 10 away Ligue 1 fixtures.
In addition, both opponents scored against each other in 7 of the last 8 head-to-head meetings in France's top division. Therefore our prediction — Both teams to score.
Prediction: Both teams to score
* The starting lineup for each team is indicated from their last match in this competition.