Preview: Lens vs Metz – prediction, team news, lineups

Lens will goal to return to profitable methods on Sunday once they welcome backside membership Metz to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis for his or her matchday 25 conflict in Ligue 1.

Les Sang et Or at present sit 4 factors behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain with 10 matches remaining, preserving their hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification alive, whereas the guests arrive locked in a battle for survival regardless of having loved some success at this stadium in latest seasons.

Match preview

It appeared the engines have been starting to stall for Lens, one of many shock packages of this season’s Ligue 1 marketing campaign, after they dropped factors in consecutive league matches, however Thursday’s Coupe de France quarter-remaining victory over Lyon ought to restore confidence.

Just a few weeks in the past Lens have been neck-and-neck with PSG on the summit of the tablehowever a defeat and a draw of their final two league outings have seen them lose floor and slip 4 factors behind the reigning champions, a big hole given PSG’s energy and squad depth.

Pierre Sage‘s facet additionally surprisingly surrendered a two-aim lead at house to AS Monaco two weeks in the past, dropping not solely the match but in addition their grip on first place within the standings.

However, final weekend’s 1-1 draw away to RC Strasbourg Alsace moved the northern French outfit onto 53 factors this season, already surpassing their complete tally from the 2024–25 marketing campaign (52) once they completed eighth, whereas Sage has additionally recorded two extra league wins (17) than his predecessor Will Still managed through the earlier marketing campaign because the membership chased a spot within the league part of the Champions League.

Lens have additionally been formidable on the Stade Bollaert-Delelis this season, boasting the second-finest house report within the division behind PSG with 10 wins from 12 matches, and a gathering with backside membership Metz may assist prolong that spectacular run.

Despite being favorites for Sunday’s encounter, Metz claimed their first league victory of the marketing campaign in opposition to Lens again in October with a 2-0 win, and Les Sang et Or have truly received solely one in all their final 5 conferences with the guests, dropping three and drawing as soon as.

It would take one thing near a miracle for Metz to keep away from relegation this season, and up to date outcomes have solely bolstered that bleak outlook after Benoit Tavenot‘s facet suffered their third consecutive Ligue 1 defeat final weekend at house to Brest.

Les Grenats haven’t received within the prime flight since beating Nice at house earlier than the November 2025 worldwide break, and they’re at present enduring the longest winless run within the division regardless of a managerial change supposed to spark enchancment.

Tavenot, who changed the dismissed Stephane Le Mignan, has endured a troublesome begin by overseeing six league matches that produced one draw and 5 defeats, together with a 3-0 loss away to reigning champions PSG in addition to one other defeat in opposition to fellow relegation battlers AJ Auxerre in latest weeks.

They have additionally didn’t win away from house on this competitors since November 2 at FC Nantes, gathering only one level on the highway since that victory.

The Lorraine membership at present sit 5 factors behind Auxerre within the race for a relegation playoff spot and have misplaced a league-excessive 17 matches in Ligue 1 this season.

Metz have but to earn a degree away from house this marketing campaign in opposition to a facet at present within the prime 5, though they did defeat Sunday’s opponent 2-0 at house in late October.

Lens Ligue 1 kind:

Lens kind (all competitions):

Metz Ligue 1 kind:

Team News

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Lens will likely be with out Regis Gurtner and Samson Baidoo as a result of ongoing hamstring issues, whereas Jonathan Gradit is coping with a decrease-leg harm and Ruben Aguilar stays sidelined with a calf subject; fellow defender Kyllian Antonio can be unavailable due to a foot drawback and Mamadou Sangare is scuffling with a pelvic harm.

Winter signing and former West Ham United defender Arthur Masuaku started the latest Coupe de France tie in opposition to Olympique Lyonnais on the bench however was sat off whereas warming up after talking to the assistant referee, who reported the incident to the match official who subsequently issued a purple card.

For the guests, Metz will stay with out goalkeeper Pape Sy as he continues to recuperate from a head harm, whereas midfielder Benjamin Stambouli is ready to overlook a fourth consecutive match with a rib drawback.

ahead Joseph Mangondo remains to be sidelined with a knee harm, prime scorer Gauthier Hein is anticipated to overlook a second straight recreation as a result of an ankle subject, and midfielder Ismael Guerti may additionally stay unavailable.

Lens potential beginning lineup:

Risser; Celik, Ganiou, Sarr; Thomasson, Sangare, Abdulhamid, Udol; Thauvin, Sima, Edouard

Metz potential beginning lineup:

Fischer; Kouao, Sane, Gbamin, Colin; Ballo-Toure, A. Traore, Munongo, Tsitaishvili, Sarr; Diallo

We say: Lens 4-0 Metz

On paper this must be a easy victory for RC Lens, though it’s a fixture that has induced them issues in latest seasons.

With Champions League qualification on the road and rivals gathering momentum within the closing weeks of the marketing campaign, Sage’s facet are anticipated to assault aggressively and may safe a convincing win on Sunday.

For information evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.