Metz v Rennes Bet Builder Stats & Predictions
Metz v Rennes
Kick Off: 19:45, Friday 28th November
Competition: Ligue 1
Watch Live: Ligue 1+
For more Football Predictions for this weekend, including European football tips, head over to my website, Andy’s Bet Club. As well as expert tips, my Match Stats Hub offers the latest team and player stats for every weekend fixture.
Metz welcome Rennes on Friday, with the home side eying up a victory that would lift them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. Their three wins in Ligue 1 this term have all come in their last five matches, showing that Metz still have some fight left in them.
Rennes are hovering around the European spots, with just three points separating fourth and eighth in Ligue 1 right now. Rennes can move into the top four with a victory here, in what is set to be an intense battle for Europe in the French top flight.
Match Stats: Metz starting to find momentum
Metz looked like a side destined to finish bottom of Ligue 1 a few weeks ago, but have found some form in recent matches to give themselves a fighting chance of staying up. Eight of their 11 points so far this season have come at home, with Metz only losing two of their six matches in front of their home fans.
Rennes are in a much healthier position, competing for the European spots in Ligue 1. They’ll have to be wary of Metz’s recent improvement, as they could become the latest victims with Lens, Nantes and Nice all being turned over by Metz recently – two of these victories have come at home.
Rennes themselves will feel confident of outscoring Metz when looking at their recent performances. Two 4-1 victories against Strasbourg and Monaco are particularly standout, and show how Rennes can compete with the elite sides in the division. They will need to improve on their away record here, with only one win on the road so far – four of their six matches have ended in draws, with 11 goals conceded across these fixtures.
BTTS is a really appealing angle here when considering Metz’s recent resurgence, and the fact that Rennes have seen BTTS in four of their last five matches across all competitions.
Predictions –
BTTS @ 1.61
Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.50
Rennes to Win & BTTS @ 2.50
Shot Stats: Rennes Forwards in Fine Form
Rennes have scored 12 goals across their last five matches in all competitions (2.4 per game). They’ve scored four goals twice in this sequence, against both Monaco and Strasbourg.
The front pairing of Esteban Lepaul and Breel Embolo are well worth keeping an eye on here. Many will know Embolo from his cameos with Switzerland in various international tournaments, and he’s always been a solid striker in Ligue 1. Lepaul has been the standout player for Rennes, though, with 11 goal contributions across his 13 appearances in Ligue 1 this term (8 goals, 3 assists).
When it comes to shots, Ludovic Blas is the player to back. He’s had 21 shots across his seven starts for Rennes this season (3.13 per 90). He has a slight issue with fitting into the structure of the side at times, with no real room for a creative midfielder in Rennes’ 3-5-2 set up. He did score against Monaco last time, furthering the argument for him to start here.
Predictions –
Esteban Lepaul to score/assist @ 2.25
Breel Embolo 1+ shots on target @ 1.50
Ludovic Blas 3+ shots @ 1.80
Card Stats: Metz tend to be passive
You’d usually expect a side scrapping towards the bottom of the table to have a high card count, but this isn’t the case for Metz. They’ve only collected 19 yellow cards in Ligue 1 this term, with only two clubs collecting fewer. Metz are happy for the opposition to dictate the game, and won’t step up to press them too often.
This could open the door for a few Rennes cautions, seeing as they may have to make tactical fouls when Metz can get opportunities in transition. Rennes’ card count as a team isn’t that appealing either (25), so looking at individual players seems a better angle for this contest.
Przemyslaw Frankowski and Mahdi Camara stand out in the Rennes side as players that could be cautioned here. Frankowski has picked up more yellow cards than any other Rennes player so far this season (4), with Camara sitting behind him three yellow cards, as well as picking up a red card this term.
Predictions –
Przemyslaw Frankowski to be shown a card @ 3.0
Mahdi Camara to be shown a card @ 3.40
2+ Rennes Cards @ 1.45
By: @AndysBetClubUK
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Scoop Dyga / Icon Sport / BSR Agency / Getty Images Sport
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