The 2020/21 French Ligue 1 season enters its second week and there is a full fixture list to enjoy. One of the games takes place at the Stade Saint-Symphorien as FC Metz welcome AS Monaco on Sunday the 30th of August. The hosts are currently in 16th place but are yet to play a match whereas the visitors are in 5th place with a point to their name.
FC Metz did not play on the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 season; therefore, this will be their first match of the new campaign. The final standings for last season were based on an average of points earned per matches played and FC Metz finished in 15th place. They were well clear of the relegation zone and only 6 points behind upcoming opponents, AS Monaco.
FC Metz were proving a difficult team to beat last season and in their final 11 league games, they lost only twice. They managed to win 3 of their final 5 home Ligue 1 matches but they were the only victories FC Metz managed to pick up in their 9 most recent league games at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Trends show FC Metz often find the back of the net when playing at home and have scored at least one goal in 10 of their last 12 home league matches. However, they have been struggling to keep clean sheets, shutting out the opposition only once in their last 9 games on home soil.
AS Monaco started the new season with a home match against Reims last weekend. The team from the principality made a slow start to the game and were 2-0 down after only 21 minutes. However, AS Monaco did well to come back into the match, pulling a goal back before half time and scoring the equaliser In the 55th minute.
Last season, AS Monaco finished in 9th place and missed out on European football. They have failed to win any of their last 4 Ligue 1 matches, drawing 3 and losing one. The defeat came away at Nice towards the end of last season and that is the only loss suffered by AS Monaco in their 7 most recent French league games.
Trends show that AS Monaco have seen both teams score in each of their last 5 away Ligue 1 matches. In addition, AS Monaco have managed to keep a clean sheet in 5 of their 7 most recent league clashes with FC Metz.
Team news and FC Metz will be without Boubacar Traore and Kevin N'Doram due to injury.
AS Monaco travel without Judilson Pele, who is not expected back in action until the beginning of September.
FC Metz will want to begin the new season with a win but they do not have a strong recent record against the visitors. AS Monaco have enjoyed a good defensive record against their opponents and could come out on top, winning the match to nil.