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Ligue 1 | Gameweek 20
Jan 17, 2021 at 8pm UK
Stade de Gerland
ML

Lyon
0 - 1
Metz


Dubois (27')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Leya Iseka (90')
Boye (27'), Centonze (27'), Kouyate (86'), Leya Iseka (90')

Preview: Lyon vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Lyon vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Metz, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

League leaders Lyon host Metz in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with Rudi Garcia's side needing a win to hold off the chasing pack.

Metz, meanwhile, have failed to win their last three matches, but can move back into the top half of the table by causing an upset and avoiding defeat.


Match preview

Given that they have remained unbeaten at home so far this season, Garcia will feel confident that his side can deliver the goods on Sunday.

His squad's morale will have been boosted even further too by last weekend's 2-2 draw at Rennes, with Jason Denayer's late equaliser salvaging a point after trailing 2-0 until Memphis Depay's 11th league strike of the season.

That point also ensured that Lyon stayed one point ahead of PSG and Lille in the table, with French football potentially having its most exciting title race since Monaco sensationally won the league in the 2016-17 campaign.

With Depay, Toko Ekambi and Tinotenda Kadewere all in rampant goalscoring form in Lyon's front three, Garcia's side look to have their best chance of winning Ligue 1 since the club last lifted the title in 2007-08, but there is a long way to go yet.

Metz, meanwhile, are ticking along nicely this season under Frederic Antonetti, having amassed 25 points from 19 games.

Despite losing top goalscorer Ibrahima Niane to a potentially season-ending knee injury earlier in the campaign, Antonetti has helped keep his side comfortably clear of any relegation concerns.

However, there is no doubt that it has not been particularly pleasing on the eye, with Niane still sitting on twice as many goals (six) as any of his teammates despite having only played in the first six games of the season.

Indeed, Metz have only scored one goal in their last four games, which came via John Boye's late equaliser in last weekend's 1-1 draw against Nice, but they remain a very tough side to beat and will look to contain Lyon on Sunday.

Lyon Ligue 1 form: WDWWWD

Metz Ligue 1 form: DWWLDD


Team News

Lyon will remain without Moussa Dembele due to the forward's broken arm, although the former Celtic striker is not an automatic pick in Garcia's side these days in any case.

Bruno Guimaraes is also unavailable due to COVID-19, but otherwise Garcia appears to have a clean bill of health to choose from.

Metz, meanwhile, will not have Niane or Manuel Cabit available for the trip to Lyon, with neither player likely to play again this season after sustaining serious injuries.

Farid Boulaya and Opa Nguette are also both doubtful to travel to Lyon, leaving Antonetti's side woefully short of goals, with Kevin N'Doram and Matthieu Udol unlikely to recover from knocks.

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; De Sciglio, Marcelo, Denayer, Cornet; Paqueta, Mendes, Aouar; Kadewere, Depay, Ekambi

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Centonze, Bronn, Kouyate, Boye, Delaine; Gueye, Maiga, Angban, Maziz; Leya


We say: Lyon 2-0 Metz

With Metz potentially missing their three top goalscorers, this should be a comfortable victory for Lyon.

While Garcia's side may have to remain patient in terms of finding the breakthrough, the amount of firepower they have in attack should ensure that the goal eventually comes, with Metz unlikely to be able to respond with any meaningful offensive threat.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille1272327161123
4Lille115421811719
5Lyon115331815318
6Nice1145221111017
7Reims115241915417
8Lens124531312117
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest124171622-613
13Saint-EtienneSt Etienne124171125-1413
14Rennes113261318-511
15NantesNantes112451417-310
16Angers112451320-710
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier122191132-217
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