Bitesize Prediction: Strasbourg vs Metz – 18/01/26

Competition: Ligue 1

Market: Strasbourg win

Odds: 1/2 @ 1xBet

Turning their attention back to Ligue 1 action on Sunday afternoon, Strasbourg will welcome Metz to the Stade de la Meinau.

Starting with the hosts, officially getting a new era underway last weekend, Gary O’Neil will make his first appearance in the Stade de la Meinau dugout on Sunday afternoon. Brought in less than a fortnight ago following Liam Rosenior’s shock move to Premier League giants Chelsea, Le Racing extended on their Coupe de France adventure last week following a dominant 6-0 romp away at fourth-tier outfit Avranches. With their sights set on booking another lucrative European adventure this season, the former Wolves boss has not seen his new squad suffer a single defeat from any of their previous six appearances across all competitions. Likewise, embarking on a record-breaking Europa Conference League adventure this year and regarded as a genuine European contender, Strasbourg will also be excited by their extended success on home soil. In fact, Sunday’s hosts have lost just one of their last nine showdowns at the Stade de la Meinau – a run that stems all the way back to the end of September.

As for the visitors, while Metz might have only made their Ligue 1 return this season, the Maroons have an almighty battle on their hands in the race to keep hold of their top-flight status in 2026. Only putting 12 points on the board so far this season, Stephane Le Mignan’s men sit rock-bottom of the table and are rightfully installed as a landslide relegation candidate this year. Watching their respective Coupe de France adventure come to a thumping end last weekend as they slumped to a 4-0 drumming at home against Montpellier, Sunday’s guests will be bracing themselves for another stern examination here. Signing off 2025 with an action-packed 3-2 defeat against reigning French champions PSG, Metz have lost all of their last four consecutive Ligue 1 showdowns by an aggregate score of 10-5. It should also be noted, the Maroons suffered a 2-1 defeat when they last travelled to the Stade de la Meinau back in May 2024.

Bet: Strasbourg 1/2 to beat Metz in Sunday’s Ligue 1 battle @ 1xBet