Prediction: AS Saint-Etienne to win 2-0
Best Odds: 15/2
AS Saint-Etienne and FC Metz will lock horns with each other this week. This is the first leg of the Ligue 1 relegation playoffs. The match will be played at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 pm UK time on Thursday.
AS Saint-Etienne
AS Saint-Etienne are one of the most well-known clubs in France who are used to playing in Ligue 1. They featured in the second tier of French football this season and will now fancy their chances of getting promotion to the top flight via the playoffs.
Les Verts finished the 2023-23 campaign third in Ligue 2. Olivier Dall’Oglio ended the season with 65 points from 38 matches, three points behind Angers, who finished second. They will now look to get the better of FC Metz over two legs in the Ligue 1 relegation playoff final.
AS Saint-Etienne will head into the match against FC Metz on Thursday on the back of a 2-0 victory over Rodez Aveyron in Ligue 2. It came after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of US Quevilly in the league which followed a 1-1 draw with Rodez Aveyron in Ligue 2.
Team News:
AS Saint-Etienne are likely to line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation against FC Metz. Gautier Larsonneur will be in goal. Yvann Macon, Dylan Batubinsika, Mickael Nade and Leo Petrot will be the four defenders. Florien Tardieu will be the holding midfielder. Irvin Cardona, Aimen Moueffek, Dylan Chambost and Mathieu Cafaro will be the four attacking midfielders. Ibrahim Sissoko will lead the line for AS Saint-Etienne.
FC Metz
FC Metz have had a very poor season in Ligue 1 and could have finished in the bottom two. László Bölöni’s side ended the regular campaign with 29 points from 34 matches, level on points with Lorient, who finished 17th. They got automatically relegated because they had an inferior head-to-head goals scored away from home against Metz.
Metz, though, now have a second chance of escaping the dreaded drop to Ligue 2 at the end of the season. They will take on Ligue 2 side AS Saint-Etienne over two legs in the playoff/relegation final.
Les Grenats will head into the match against AS Saint-Etienne on the back of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain at home in Ligue 1. It came after a 2-1 loss to Strasbourg on the road in the league which followed a 3-2 defeat to Stade Rennais in front of their fans in Ligue 1.
Team News:
FC Metz are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against AS Saint-Etienne. Alexandre Oukidja will be in goal for the visiting team and will have Maxime Colin, Sadibou Sane, Christophe Herelle and Matthieu Udol in front of him in defence. Danley Jean Jacques, Kevin N’Doram and Lamine Camara will be the three midfielders. Kevin Guiton, Georges Mikautadze and Pape Diallo will be the three forwards.
Key Factors to Consider
- AS Saint-Etienne won 19 out of their 38 Ligue 2 matches this season.
- FC Metz lost their last 4 Ligue 1 matches.
- FC Metz conceded 58 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches.
- FC Metz scored 35 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches.
- AS Saint-Etienne scored 48 goals and conceded 31 goals in 38 Ligue 1 games this season.
Conclusion
FC Metz have struggled in Ligue 1 all season, while AS Saint-Etienne could have finished in the top two in Ligue 2. Olivier Dall’Oglio’s side are in better form and will fancy their chances of winning the first leg of the playoff final, especially as they are the home team.
Prediction: AS Saint-Etienne to win 2-0
Best Odds: 15/2
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
