Preview:Paris FC vs Metz - prediction, team news, lineups

Both looking to pick up their first points of the Ligue 1 season, Paris FC and Metz meet for a battle between two newly-promoted sides on Sunday afternoon at Stade Jean Bouin.

Les Parisiens have failed to start the top-flight term brightly despite a number of high-profile arrivals, whilst Les Grenats are yet to lay a glove on their first-tier opponents.

Match preview

Competing in the third tier of French football as recently as 2017, Paris FC have enjoyed a marvellous rise to the summit of the French game over the past few years, with Sunday afternoon's hosts aiming to eventually rival city foes Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1.

That being said, Les Parisiens have struggled during their first campaign back at the top level of French football following a near 50-year absence, losing back-to-back away matches in Ligue 1 at the bases of Angers and most recently Marseille.

As a result, Paris are currently occupying 17th spot in the top-flight standings after two contests, joining Nantes, Le Havre and Metz as the only four sides who are yet to pick up a point at the very beginning of the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign.

A 5-2 defeat at the home of Champions League-competing Marseille provided little cause for early-season optimism last weekend, but the performance of attacker Ilan Kebbal was a highlight, with the Algerian bagging a goal and an assist at Stade Velodrome.

As alluded to earlier, Paris have not hesitated to reach for their cheque book this summer as they aim to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2, with Sunday's hosts bringing the likes of Kevin Trapp, Willem Geubbels and Otavio to Stade Jean Bouin.

After relegation during the 2023-24 campaign, Metz managed an instant return to the top level of French football last season, winning Ligue 2's playoffs and booking a ticket to the top flight alongside league champions Lorient and this weekend's hosts Paris.

Tipped to struggle this term, Les Grenats have failed to find the net across their opening two matches and remain pointless, losing 1-0 at home to Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg on August 17 before being dispatched at the fortress of Lyon last time out.

Metz were all-but defeated by the half-time whistle at Groupama Stadium following first-half strikes from Malick Fofana and Corentin Tolisso, with substitute Adam Karabec adding a third for Les Gones during the second period to conclude the scoring.

Les Grenats and Nantes are the only sides yet to make the net ripple in Ligue 1 this season, with the former failing to make an attacking signing so far during the summer transfer window amid Cheikh Sabaly's struggles to adapt to top-flight life.

Navigating his first-ever campaign as a Ligue 1 manager, Stephane Le Mignan is learning on the job at a higher level, with the 51-year-old losing just six of his opening 40 matches in charge of Metz prior to back-to-back defeats at the beginning of this season.

Paris FC Ligue 1 form: L L

Metz Ligue 1 form: L L

Team News

After conceding five times at Stade Velodrome last weekend, Paris could bring new goalkeeper Trapp straight into the XI on Sunday.

The arrival of the German in between the sticks would signal the end of Obed Nkambadio's time as the first-choice shot-stopper for Les Parisiens.

Metz picked up a fresh injury concern during the defeat at Lyon, with Urie-Michel Mboula forced off after just 41 minutes.

The 22-year-old is expected to be sidelined until after the September international break with his muscle problem, meaning that Alpha Toure is set to earn a start this weekend.

Following his side's failure to find the net so far in Ligue 1, head coach Le Mignan could shuffle his pack at the top end of the pitch, introducing the likes of Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Bokele.

Paris FC possible starting lineup:

Trapp; Chergui, Mbow, Marchetti, Otavio, Sangui; Kebbal, Lopez, Camara, Simon; Geubbels

Metz possible starting lineup:

Fischer; Kouao, Sane, Gbamin, Toure; Tsitaishvili, Traore, Stambouli, Abuashvili; Gueye, Hein

We say: Paris FC 1-0 Metz

After back-to-back away defeats, Paris FC are on home soil for the first time this season and will be confident of producing a positive result for their supporters.

Metz are in a rut at the beginning of this season and appear destined to suffer three straight defeats for the first time since May 2024.

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