Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Lille
Match Time & Date:
18/02/2022
21:00
Prediction: 2-0
Metz
Lille will be looking to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Montpellier when they take on Metz at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Friday evening. Les Dogues are eyeing a place in the Champions League, but they will have to be at their sharpest in the remainder of the season if they are to meet the goal. Zeki Celik serves a one-game ban, while both Isaac Lihadji and Renato Sanches are sidelined with injuries.
Les Grenats, on the other hand, aim to escape the relegation zone, but given their three-game winless run in the French top flight, we believe that there is a big value in betting on Lille. To make things even worse for the visiting side, all Kana-Biyik, Alakouch, De Preville, Centonze, N’Doram, and Udol are sidelined with injuries. In the first half of the season the two teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Highlighted Player (Jonathan Bamba):
After spending his youth career at CS Paris-Charenton, UJA AlfortVille and Saint-Etienne, Jonathan Bamba started playing for Saint-Etienne II at senior level. In 2015 he was given a chance to prove his worth with the first team and it has to be noted that he scored eight goals in 42 appearances for les Verts in Ligue 1.
Following his loan spells with Paris, Sint-Truiden and Angers, Jonathan Bamba joined Lille in the summer of 2018. The pacey winger born in Alfortville (France) on March 26, 1996, has been playing for les Dogues ever since, but he has yet to earn a cap for the French national team. Nonetheless, Jonathan Bamba has 12 caps with France U21 in which he scored four goals for les Tricolores.
Jonathan Bamba’s main position is left winger, but he is used as a centre-forward as well. The French footballer, whose preferred foot is right, has a contract with Lille until June 30, 2023.
Highlighted Team (Metz):
Thanks to amalgamation of two amateur clubs Metz were founded in 1932 and soon they became a professional team. Les Grenats are one of the oldest professional teams in France, but they have yet to win the Ligue 1 trophy. Metz finished the 1997/1998 season in second place in the standings and it has to be noted that they were level on points with champions Lens (worse goal difference).
However, les Grenats won Coupe de France on two occasions (1983/1984, 1987/1988), with the team beating Monaco and Sochaux respectively in the title games. Emmanuel Adebayor is considered one of the most famous players who whore Metz jersey and you should know that the Togolese attacker scored 15 goals in 44 appearances in the league for the club.
Metz play their home games at Stade Saint-Symphorien, the venue which was opened back in September, 1923. Les Grenats wear red shirts and white shorts when playing at home, whilst the colour of their away kits is white.
