Metz vs Lille Predictions

• Lille won both encounters between the sides last season (1-0 & 0-2).
• The champions lost just one of their 19 away trips en route to clinching the title, winning 14.

Champions to make a winning start

Lille aren’t expected to back up their title winning heroics this season, but the reigning champions should get their new Ligue 1 campaign off to a solid start when they make the trip to Metz this Sunday.

Les Dogues were outstanding throughout last term and lost just three of their 38 Ligue 1 fixtures en route to landing the title and breaking PSG’s stranglehold over the French top flight.

But despite their achievements in 2020/21, Lille are a general 14/1 to defend their crown and that’s largely due to manager Christophe Galtier’s surprise switch to Nice and the sales of midfielder Boubakary Samane to Leicester City and keeper Mike Maignan to AC Milan.

With PSG significantly strengthening over the summer, Lille’s reign over France should be a short one, though Les Dogues are expected to challenge for a top three berth providing new boss Jocelyn Gourvennec can hit the ground running.

Lille are expected to hold their form at least until their squad are engaged in the UEFA Champions League and a winning start to the season looks on the cards against Metz.

Sunday’s hosts did well to finish 10^th last season, but they were outpointed in both meetings with Lille, who were 1-0 victors at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in September before easing to a 0-2 success here in April.

The champions should simply have too much quality in this one and they began the campaign overall on the right note with a 1-0 triumph over a depleted PSG in the Trophee des Champions last weekend.

Overall, the visitors represent decent value this Sunday at a general 8/11 which is too big based on the gulf between the teams. Punters are advised to play with a straight bat and a 0-2 result is our call for correct score players.

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