Newly promoted Metz will kick off their 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign with a clash against Strasbourg at the Stade Saint Symphorien on Sunday evening.
Football Whispers will be examining the chances of both sides coming out on top in this Metz vs Strasbourg prediction article. However, a preview of other matches in the top tier of French football can be gotten from our Ligue 1 predictions.
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Metz vs Strasbourg prediction: Newcomers off to losing start
Key stats
- Metz will need to address their issues at the back if they are to stand any chance of establishing themselves at this level after conceding 12 times across their final four pre-season matches.
- Games involving Les Grenats have been a guaranteed source of entertainment, with four of the last five yielding three goals or more.
- The same could also be said for Strasbourg, whose most recent nine matches have produced at least three goals on all but one occasion.
- Save for their goalless stalemate against Mainz 05 last time out, four of Les Bleus et Blancs' last five outings have ended with both teams getting on the score sheet.
Correct score prediction: Metz 1-2 Strasbourg
Strasbourg were perhaps Ligue 1's biggest surprise packages of the 2024/25 season and would have put the whole league on alert.
While it is unclear whether they will be able to replicate the heights reached last time out, we can see them getting underway with all three points this weekend.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Visitors backed to emerge victorious
- HOME: 2/1 (3.00) – 33.3%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
- AWAY: 13/10 (2.30) – 43.5%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Strasbourg lost both of their final two league games of 2024/25, but their 43.5% win probability here suggests they should be getting back to winning ways come the sound of the final whistle here.
Liam Rosenoir's men had a mixed preseason, picking up two wins, two defeats and a draw from five matches.
Metz, meanwhile, have been given a 33.3% chance of marking their return to Ligue 1 on a high, although their most recent outing was a day to forget.
Stephane Le Mignan's men were comprehensively thrashed 8-0 by Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim to close out their preparations for the new campaign.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Six in a row on the cards for Strasbourg
After going 11 matches without a win against Metz between 2008 and 2020, Strasbourg have come out on top in five straight meetings leading up to Sunday's game.
The away side claimed league doubles over their hosts in 2021/22 and 2023/24 to establish a significant level of dominance in this fixture.
France Ligue 1 12/05/24
Strasbourg
Metz
France Ligue 1 24/09/23
Metz
Strasbourg
France Ligue 1 09/01/22
Metz
Strasbourg
France Ligue 1 17/09/21
Strasbourg
Metz
France Ligue 1 14/02/21
Metz
Strasbourg
Metz preview: Gauthier Hein a big miss
Racking up 13 goals and seven assists, Hein was directly involved in more goals than any other Metz player last season en route to promotion but will miss Sunday's opener through a suspension.
This should see Idrissa Gueye get the nod to feature in attack after a promising debut campaign for the Senegalese last time out.
Predicted lineup: Fischer (GK), Sane, Mboula, Kerkhof, Deminguet, Gbamin, Traore, Tsitaishvili, Sabalay, Sane & Gueye
France Ligue 2 10/05/25
W
Laval
2
Metz
3
France Ligue 2 02/05/25
D
Rodez Aveyron
3
Metz
3
France Ligue 2 26/04/25
L
Pau
2
Metz
1
France Ligue 2 19/04/25
D
Red Star FC 93
2
Metz
2
France Ligue 2 11/04/25
W
Martigues
1
Metz
4
Strasbourg preview: New heroes needed after key departures
Djordje Petrovic and Andrey Santos were undeniably Strasbourg's best two players from last season, but both men have since returned to their parent club Chelsea, with the former earning a move to Bournemouth for his heroics.
Strasbourg will need a new set of people to step up if they are to enjoy another splendid campaign.
Ismael Doukoure, Saidou Sow and Mathis Amougou are unavailable for Sunday's game through injury, while Andrew Omobamidele will serve a suspension.
Predicted lineup: Penders (GK), Samuels-Smith, Sarr, Sylla, Amo-Ameyaw, Mwanga, Barco, Emegha, Mourabet, Lemarechal & Panichelli
France Ligue 1 10/05/25
L
Angers
2
Strasbourg
1
France Ligue 1 03/05/25
W
PSG
1
Strasbourg
2
France Ligue 1 26/04/25
W
St Etienne
1
Strasbourg
3
France Ligue 1 19/04/25
D
Monaco
0
Strasbourg
0
France Ligue 1 12/04/25
D
Nice
2
Strasbourg
2
Player to watch – Emanuel Emegha
Emegha enjoyed the highest-scoring season of his young career last time out, where he netted 14 times across all competitions. The Dutchman missed the latter stages of 2024/25 through injury and saw limited action in preseason as he steps up his recovery.
Nonetheless, Emegha is expected to be fit enough to start this weekend and is no stranger to scoring against Metz after his 89th-minute equaliser in the most recent edition of this fixture back in May 2024, when Strasbourg came from behind to snatch a 2-1 triumph.