Two sides at opposite ends of the French Ligue 1 standings do battle on Sunday as title chasers Lens take on Metz at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. While the visitors will be looking to secure their first win of the year and take a huge step toward securing safety, Lens could move within one point of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain with a win this weekend.
FootballWhispers’ Lens vs Metz prediction takes a look at the chances of both sides coming away with the desired result, as well as the odds courtesy of bet365.
Contents
- 1 Lens vs Metz prediction: Home comfort awaits Lens after two road trips
- 2 Most recent H2Hs: Just one defeat in 10 competitive meetings for Metz
- 3 Lens preview: Out to capitalise on PSG’s slump and rekindle fairytale title charge
- 4 Metz preview: Aiming to get first win of year on board
- 5 Player to watch — Florian Thauvin
Lens vs Metz prediction: Home comfort awaits Lens after two road trips
Key stats
- Lens have opened the scoring in five of their most recent seven matches since late January, going on to win five and pick up one draw from the seven games.
- Five of Lens’ last six matches have seen at least three goals scored, with both teams also finding the back of the net in five of these most recent six outings.
- Metz journey to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis without a win in their last six Ligue 1 away games, losing five and picking up one draw since November’s 2-0 victory over Nantes.
- Lens have won all but one of their last 11 home matches across all competitions, with a narrow 3-2 loss against AS Monaco on February 21 being the exception.
Correct score prediction: Lens 3-1 Metz
With the thrill from reaching the cup semi-finals still in the air, a spirited Lens side will return to league action with confidence as they look to snap their run of two games without a win.
Pierre Sage’s men take on a struggling Metz side who have endured a turbulent campaign and we are backing them to come away with all three points in front of their home supporters.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Lens down as clear favourites
- HOME: 27/100 (1.27) – 78.7%
- DRAW: 19/4 (5.75) – 17.4%
- AWAY: 10/1 (11.00) – 9.1%
*odds from bet365, subject to change
With a 78.7% win probability, the bookmakers have Lens down as firm favourites to come out on top at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis this weekend.
Metz are without a league win since November 9 and have been given a measly 9.1% chance of ending this dry spell, while there is a 17.4% likelihood of the game ending in a stalemate.
While we take a deeper look into both teams, you can take a peek at some of FootballWhispers’ best picks and predictions for this weekend’s fixtures in today’s free football betting tips.
Most recent H2Hs: Just one defeat in 10 competitive meetings for Metz
Metz boasts a clear upper hand in the history of this fixture, having picked up fine wins from their last 10 meetings across all competitions, four more than Lens’ one victory.
Benoit Tavenot’s men head into the weekend unbeaten in nine of their last 10 competitive games against Sunday’s hosts, claiming six wins and three draws since August 2018.
France Ligue 1 29/10/25
Metz
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Elite Club Friendlies 26/07/25
Lens
Metz
France Ligue 1 12/04/24
Metz
Lens
France Ligue 1 16/09/23
Lens
Metz
France Ligue 1 13/03/22
Metz
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Lens preview: Out to capitalise on PSG’s slump and rekindle fairytale title charge
Lens booked their spot in the Coupe de France semi-finals last Thursday when they edged out Olympique Lyon on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in normal time at the Groupama Stadium.
Sage’s men now turn their focus to the Ligue 1, where they have failed to win their last two games, picking up one point from a possible six, having won 11 of the 12 matches preceding this run.
Despite their slight drop-off in form, Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 loss to AS Monaco on Friday means Lens could move within one point of the top of the Ligue 1 table, as they sit second in the standings with 53 points from 24 games, four points behind PSG.
Predicted lineup: Risser (GK), Celik, Ganiou, Sarr, Abdulhamid, Sangare, Thomasson, Udol, Thauvin, Sotoca & Edouard
Lens’ last five games
- 05/03/26: Olympique Lyon 2-2 Lens (Lens win 5-4 on penalties) (Coupe de France)
- 27/02/26: Strasbourg 1-1 Lens (Ligue 1)
- 21/02/26: Lens 2-3 AS Monaco (Ligue 1)
- 14/02/26: Paris FC 0-5 Lens (Ligue 1)
- 07/02/26: Lens 3-1 Stade Rennais (Ligue 1)
Metz preview: Aiming to get first win of year on board
Metz were left empty-handed yet again last Sunday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against 10-man Brest when the two sides squared off at the Stade Saint Symphorien.
With that result, Benoit Tavenot’s men have lost three games on the trot and are without a win until their last nine matches in all competitions, losing seven and claiming two draws since the turn of the year.
Since picking up three straight victories between October 29 and November 9, Metz have failed to taste victory in 12 straight Ligue 1 matches, a slump which has seen them pick up just two points from a possible 36 and put their top-flight status under serious threat, barely one year after gaining promotion from the second tier.
Metz have picked up just 13 points from their 24 Ligue matches so far to sit rock-bottom of the standings, five points behind 16th-placed Auxerre in the relegation playoff spot and 11 points off 15th-placed Nice in safety.
Predicted lineup: Fischer (GK), Kouao, Sane, Gbamin, Colin, Traore, Sarr, Munongo, Toure, Tsitaishvili & Diallo
Metz’s last five games
- 01/03/26: Metz 0-1 Stade Brestois (Ligue 1)
- 21/02/26: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Metz (Ligue 1)
- 15/02/26: Metz 1-3 Auxerre (Ligue 1)
- 06/02/26: Metz 0-0 Lille (Ligue 1)
- 01/02/26: Angers 1-0 Metz (Ligue 1)
Player to watch — Florian Thauvin
Florian Thauvin was a standout performer in the cup triumph against Olympique Lyon last time out and the veteran attacker will look to deliver the goods once again this weekend.
The 33-year-old scored one and set up the second inside the first half to put Lens two goals up while also taking his goal involvement tally to five in five games, scoring three and providing two assists since the start of February.
Having signed from Udinese last summer, Thauvin has been a valuable addition to Lens so far and we expect the Frenchman to team up with Wesley Said and Odsonne Edouard in the attacking third.