Metz vs Lens Predictions

• At least three goals have been scored in three of Metz’s last four home Ligue 1 fixtures
• At least three goals have been scored in Lens’ last two away league games and four of six overall
• Georges Mikautadze has scored five goals in his last six Ligue 1 appearances

Lens could struggle against Metz

Lens could be made to struggle for all three points at Stade Saint-Symphorien on Friday when they come up against a Metz side that has rediscovered the art of scoring goals.

Les Sang et Or have slipped away from top-four contention after a defeat in the Derby du Nord at Lille and a 1-1 home draw with lowly Le Havre last weekend. And coach Franck Haise’s problems could be compounded if seven-goal top scorer Elye Wahi is unable to start this game amid the injury absence of six-goal hitman Wesley Said.

Lens have lost four and won only five away from their Stade Bollaert-Delelis stronghold this season, although those defeats were all to teams currently above them in the table and Metz are way down in 17th and fighting a relegation battle.

Boloni’s side have rediscovered their goal touch

But Laszlo Boloni’s side are showing some fight and a refound ability to score goals, which has shown up in their recent 5-2 home defeat to third-placed Monaco and last weekend’s 4-3 loss to second-placed Brest. Metz carry enough of a goal threat to suggest they can make it onto the scoreboard and perhaps push Lens into scoring multiple times in order to edge their way to a much-needed away victory.

The home side’s stats for over 2.5 goals in their games are improving and Lens have also seen an uptick in total goals for their away games of late, so over three strikes in this game might be a safer play than backing the visitors at roughly the same odds.

That said, the respective home and away form of both clubs suggests backing Lens to come out on top by a 2-1 margin makes the most sense of all the correct score options.