Metz vs Lyon Prediction 25 January 2026
🔊 Can Metz secure a victory in the French league under their new manager? This Sunday, they face a tough challenge as Lyon, who are currently fourth in the standings, come to town. The teams display vastly different levels of football, making the visitors the bookmakers' favorites. Read on for a detailed analysis of the upcoming match and an insightful prediction on its outcome.
Head-to-Head
📊 Metz have proven to be a favorable opponent for Lyon when it comes to picking up points. In their last four head-to-head encounters, the "Lions" have triumphed three times and drawn once.
Head-to-head statistics Metz - Lyon
Metz Team Overview
🔴 Metz are one of the main underdogs this Ligue 1 season and a clear candidate for relegation from the top division. The team currently sits at the bottom of the standings, trailing the safety spot held by the "Crusaders" by six points. The club's management had long endured the team's failures but finally decided to take a significant step by changing the head coach. Benoît Tavenot will now lead the players forward!
⚪ There's much to be said about whether the decision to dismiss the head coach came too late, but the issue isn't solely about poor management; it's also about a lack of quality players. Metz's funding, frankly, is far from top-tier, and that's reflected in their results. In their last match, the "Crusaders" suffered a 1-2 away defeat to Strasbourg.
Match Results: Metz
Olympique Lyon Team Overview
🔵 Lyon are showcasing impressive football this season, both in the domestic league and on the international stage. However, consistency is sometimes lacking, with frustrating defeats preventing them from securing a spot in the top three of Ligue 1. Take, for instance, the recent loss to Lorient (0-1), a game they could have easily avoided losing.
🔴 In their last three Ligue 1 outings, Lyon have secured victories, conceding very few goals in the process, with an aggregate score of 6-2. Additionally, Paulo Fonseca's men recently claimed an away victory in the Europa League against Young Boys (1-0), extending their winning streak across all competitions to seven matches.
Match Results: Olympique Lyon
Latest news
Metz
🖋 Metz have parted ways with their head coach Stéphane Le Mignan, who had been with the team since 2024 and led them to the top tier of French football. Benoît Tavenot, who previously served as the club's assistant coach from 2019 to 2022, has been appointed as his successor. The 49-year-old has signed a contract that runs until the end of the current season, with an option for extension.
❌ Metz face Lyon with relatively few absences. Pape Sarr (concussion) and Joseph Mangondo (knee injury) will be sidelined due to injuries of varying severity. Both players require several weeks for recovery.
Olympique Lyon
❌ Lyon may have to do without three of their players for the upcoming match: Nicolás Tagliafico (leg injury), Rachid Ghezzal (muscle injury), and Abner Vinícius (illness). They might be fit enough to play, but their participation is uncertain. Ernest Nuamah (knee injury) and Malik Fofana (ankle injury) are definitely sidelined and will not feature against Metz.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
The upcoming match will be officiated by Eric Wattellier. Over a span of 100 matches, he averages 2.99 yellow cards per game, with 21 fouls. In Ligue 1, over 18 matches, Metz average 1.8 yellow cards per game, while Lyon average 2.2. Opponents haven't been receiving too many cautions this season, so we suggest betting on total yellow cards under 5.5.
⚽️ Goal Prediction
Metz's individual goal average in Ligue 1 stands at 1.1 per match, with Lyon at 1.5. The overall scoring in matches involving these teams is quite high: the hosts average 3.3 goals, while the visitors average 2.5. Considering this data and their head-to-head results, we recommend a bet on total match goals over 2.5.
🚩 Corner Prediction
In eighteen Ligue 1 matches, Metz have averaged 3.9 corners per game, while Lyon have averaged 6.1. Paulo Fonseca's side tends to win more corner kicks than their opponents, so we suggest betting on Lyon to win on corners.
Editor's Prediction
Metz are currently in a challenging position in the standings, and simply having the desire to play isn't enough-they need quality players across all positions, which they lack! The recent change in head coach is unlikely to yield immediate results. Meanwhile, Lyon are in excellent form with a long streak of success. That's why we expect Lyon to secure a confident victory in the upcoming match with a scoreline of 3-0.
No comments
Betting Tips: Metz - Olympique Lyon
in 5 of last 6 home games against Olympique Lyon (Ligue 1).in last 7 games..svg)
in 5 of last 6 home games against Olympique Lyon (Ligue 1).
in 6 of last 7 away games.in last 4 home games.
Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
