Preview: Metz vs Rennes - prediction, team news, lineups

Matchday 14 of the Ligue 1 campaign kicks off in Lorraine on Friday evening when Metz play host to Rennes at Stade Saint-Symphorien in the first meeting between the two this year.

Last weekend, Les Grenats remained in the relegation zone thanks to a 3-2 defeat at Brest, while Rennes moved up to sixth following a 4-1 win at home to Monaco.

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Match preview

In what was a back-and-forth encounter in Brittany on Sunday, Metz unfortunately wound up on the losing end, conceding the winning penalty in the latter stages of stoppage time.

That ended this team’s three-match winning run in Ligue 1, conceding two more goals against Brest than they had in their previous three top-flight matches combined.

On Friday, they can extend their winning run at home in this competition to three matches, equalling their longest top-flight run at Stade Saint-Symphorien since 2023.

Metz have lost their last five Ligue 1 contests against teams from Brittany, with their previous triumph versus that region in this competition coming in November 2023 at Lorient (2-1).

Stephane Le Mignan’s men have given up a league-high 30 goals in the competition so far, though only five of them were in Lorriane on their home field.

Les Graoullys boast a 100% record at home domestically this season when netting the opening goal, doing so on two occasions, while coming from behind to win once when conceding first (2-1 at Nice).

A new manager bump may have taken much longer than usual to take effect, but at last, it seems like Stade Rennais have adapted to Habib Beye’s way of playing.

They will enter this contest on a three-match winning run and without a defeat in their previous four Ligue 1 fixtures dating back to late October.

A fourth triumph this weekend would mark their longest string of victories in this competition, since they won six in a row in between December 2023 and February 2024.

Rennes are currently on a five-match unbeaten run in the league away from home, but have only triumphed in one of those instances, blanking Paris FC 1-0.

Away from home, they have been guilty of being far too complacent when in front, dropping a total of eight points from a winning position as the visitors this season.

Les Rennais have won their last seven Ligue 1 outings versus Metz, scoring three goals or more in those previous five outings in the top-flight.

Metz Ligue 1 form:

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

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Team News

A head injury will likely keep Mamadou Sy on the Metz sidelines Friday, while Urie-Michel Mboula remains a doubt as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

Heorhii Tsitaishvili drew his side level against Brest after just six minutes on matchday 13, while a Soumaila Coulibaly own-goal nearly earned them a point, only for a late Fode Ballo-Toure infraction to be deemed a handball by VAR and Metz losing on the ensuing penalty.

At Rennes, Seko Fofana is dealing with a knock, while Esteban Lepaul hurt his leg against Monaco, leaving him questionable for Friday’s match.

Breel Embolo scored against his former team last Saturday, with the other strikes coming courtesy of Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara and Ludovic Blas.

Metz possible starting lineup:

Fischer; Kouao, Gbamin, Yegbe, Colin; B. Traore, Deminguet; Sane, Hein, Tsitaishvili; Sabaly

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Samba; Jacquet, Ait Boudlal, Brassier; Frankowski, Camara, Rongier, Cisse; Al-Taamari; Meite, Embolo

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We say: Metz 1-2 Rennes

Rennes are in fine attacking form at the moment, and facing a side as inconsistent defensively as Metz, we expect they will continue their winning ways on Friday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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