Metz vs Angers Predictions

• Metz have failed to win eight of their last nine home Ligue 1 matches.
• Angers have avoided defeat in two of their last three away league contests.
• Angers have not lost to Metz in their last six competitive meetings (Won 5, Drawn 1).

Angers can make Metz pay for defensive mistakes 

Metz may be more desperate for the points, but key absences within their stretched-thin squad make Angers the better betting proposition for Saturday’s penultimate Ligue 1 fixture of the campaign.

Frederic Antonetti’s men sit second bottom of the table with only one win from their last 15 league games, although that was last week in a 3-2 thriller against Lyon sealed by a 90th minute winner. However, that was the second straight game that the Maroons had tossed away a two-goal lead and their defending of late has been lamentable.

Angers showed what they can do as an attacking force by slamming four past bottom club Bordeaux, but their displays away from Stade Raymond Kopa have been far from convincing. They get important central defender Romain Thomas back from suspension here, although left wing-back Souleyman Doumbia missed out because of a ban.

Les Grenats’ best form of defence could be to attack

Les Noirs et Blancs’ list of absentees pales into insignificance when compared to the number of players Antonetti must do without again – with suspended midfielder Vincent Pajot the latest to be ruled out. As well as long-time absentees Manuel Cabit, Matthieu Udol and Habib Maïga, Antonetti is again without first-choice full-backs Fabieri Centonze and Fali Candé, versatile defender Ibrahim Amadou and his former replacement Amadou Mbengue.

Metz’s best form of defence could be to attack, which makes the over 2.5 goals bet interesting at around 4/5, but our belief here is that the value lies with the visitors. Angers have not lost to Metz in their last six head-to-head meetings, which includes back-to-back wins at Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Our correct score prediction of a 2-2 draw reflects how open Metz’s last two league games have been while acknowledging Angers’ recent ability to score goals without their injured top scorer Sofiane Boufal.

*To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.