Metz v Marseille

Metz v Marseille Previews

It was not the sort of return to the French top flight that Metz would have envisaged in last weekend's season opener away from home at Rennes as the Ligue 1 newcomers were subjected to a comprehensive 5-1 rout at Roazhon Park but at least Metz now return to the home surroundings of their Stade Saint-Symphorien for this Friday night's clash with Marseille.

Metz had previously achieved automatic promotion from Ligue 2 at the end of last season with title-winners, Le Havre, and Metz will be desperate to consolidate their domestic top flight status this time around having yo-yo'd between the top two tiers in the past few seasons.

It should also be noted that the defeat away from home at Rennes last week was Metz's first defeat in 29 matches in all competitions and indeed, Metz have put together a solid and impressive sequence of results on home soil as well in recent times.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last 16 matches overall at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, picking up nine wins in the process but goals have been something of a rarity as 10 of Metz's last 16 home games have also resulted in Under 2.5 goals as well.

Marseille managed to shrug off a disappointing finish to the end of the last Ligue 1 campaign last weekend when they registered an opening day 2-1 home win against Reims to give manager, Marcelino, the perfect start to his tenure at the club.

Marseille had previously slumped to three defeats on the trot at the end of last season as they suffered losses against Lille, Brest and Ajaccio respectively, which culminated in the sacking of former boss, Igor Tudor, who had likened one season at Marseille was “worth two or three” at other clubs, underlining the difficulties of balancing expectations and reality at the club.

The visitors had also lost their last three away games on the trot as well, therefore making it tough to back Marseille in the straight win markets for this upcoming clash against Metz, but goals (or lack of them) suggest the goals market may be worth a dabble in this fixture.

Metz v Marseille Verdict

Metz will be desperate to produce a much better showing in this opening home game of the season after last weekend's capitulation on the road at Rennes, and the hosts will know that if they're to maintain their Ligue 1 status this season then they must make their Stade Saint-Symphorien resemble something close to being a fortress.

We therefore should expect Metz to batten down the hatches and keep things tight on home soil here on Friday night and given Marseille's poor finish to last season on their travels, the visitors may well be aiming to do the same, thus increasing the chances of a low-scoring tussle.

Therefore, our main bet will be Under 2.5 goals @ 2.10

Other side bets worth considering:

Metz win @ 4.33

Correct score: Metz 2-0 @ 21.00