Metz vs Brest – News and Probable Lineups

This Sunday at Stade Saint-Symphorien, two teams in vastly different states face off as struggling Metz take on an in-form Brest in round 24 of Ligue 1.

Currently 10 points adrift of safety, Metz aims to break an 11-match winless streak in league play (D2, L9), while Brest, buoyed by a four-match unbeaten run, now sits in 11th place in the French top-flight rankings.

Match overview

Metz has not tasted victory in the top flight since defeating Nice at home before the November international break, marking the longest ongoing drought in the league, and a recent managerial change hasn’t sparked a revival.

Benoit Tavenot, who stepped in for the dismissed Stephane Le Mignan, has experienced a challenging start, overseeing five matches (D1, L4), including a heavy 3-0 loss against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain last weekend.

The Maroons conceded first-half goals from Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola, followed by a late goal from Goncalo Ramos at the Parc des Princes. They have now allowed at least three goals in three of their last five matches.

With a league-record 52 goals conceded, Metz has the worst defensive record in Ligue 1, while managing to score just once in their last four matches has left them sharing the third fewest goals in the league with a total of only 22.

This season, Metz has achieved the lowest number of wins (3) in Ligue 1 and suffered the most losses (16), making their current predicament unsurprising. They risk facing relegation as they have only 11 games left, although a win this weekend could bring them within a point of the relegation playoff spot, contingent on Nantes and Auxerre — positioned just above them — failing to secure points in their matchday 24 fixtures.

However, with only two wins out of 11 home league fixtures (D3, L6), the Maroons have little to draw on for motivation, remaining winless in their last six matches (D1, L5) at Saint-Symphorien in all competitions.

In contrast to Metz’s free fall, Brest has seen a revival in form in recent weeks, highlighted by last Friday’s home win of 2-0 against potential top-four contenders Marseille, marking the conclusion of a four-match unbeaten sequence in February.

With a brace from Ludovic Ajorque within the first half hour, Les Pirates have now netted two goals in three of their last four games, a significant improvement compared to their previous five league outings where they managed that only once.

Now sitting seven points off European qualification, Eric Roy’s squad could take a crucial step toward their continental aspirations with a victory this weekend, which would allow them to go unbeaten in five Ligue 1 fixtures for the first time since April 2025.

Brest can draw confidence from their recent dominance in this matchup, having won their last four encounters against Metz, scoring three or more goals in the last two, including a 3-2 win in their previous meeting in November.

Nonetheless, their travel performances raise concerns regarding Les Pirates’ ability to secure all three points, with only nine of their 30 league points collected away from home, as they are yet to achieve victory in their last four away matches (D2, L2), despite leading in three of those contests.

Team News

Metz will be without goalkeeper Pape Sy, who is still recuperating from a head injury, while midfielder Benjamin Stambouli is likely to miss his third consecutive game due to a rib issue.

Forward Joseph Mangondo remains unavailable due to a knee injury, and top scorer Gauthier Hein is expected to miss a second straight match with an ankle problem. Midfielder Ismael Guerti could also remain out of action.

On the other hand, Brest may again be deprived of forward Mama Balde, sidelined with a muscle injury since early January, which seems to be the visitors’ only fitness concern ahead of this fixture.

Ajorque has been involved in at least one goal in each of his last four appearances, and his brace last weekend brought his season’s tally to five goals, making him a player to keep an eye on this Sunday.

Metz probable starting XI:

Fischer; Kouao, Sane, Yegbe, Ballo-Toure; Traore, The Mountain; Tsitaishvili, Michal, Abuashvili; Diallo

Brest probable starting XI:

Coudert; Lala, Diaz, Chardonnet, Guindo; Chotard, Magnetti; Del Castillo, Ebimbe, Doumbia; Ajoque

Brest has only secured two victories in their 11 away matches (D3, L6) during the league season, but facing a struggling Metz team offers optimism for the visitors in fine form.

Les Pirates have achieved wins in each of their last three visits to Saint-Symphorien, keeping clean sheets in all of those fixtures, and a repeat of that performance could be on the cards this Sunday.