PSG will be aiming to regain their mojo when they face bottom placed FC Metz on Saturday night.

Saturday evening in Lorraine brings together two sides experiencing very different realities, as PSG travel to Stade Saint-Symphorien to face an FC Metz team fighting for survival at the foot of the Ligue 1 table. On paper, it is a mismatch, but the circumstances surrounding both clubs add layers of intrigue to what might otherwise seem routine.

Metz arrive in worrying form. A 3-1 defeat away to Auxerre last time out left them rooted to the bottom of the standings on just 11 points, erasing much of the goodwill built during a brief but encouraging spell before the November international break. Under Stephane Le Mignan, Les Grenats had pieced together three consecutive league victories, sparking belief that momentum was finally shifting. Instead, that run has been followed by three straight defeats, dragging them back into a familiar struggle.

Another setback this weekend would represent Metz’s longest losing sequence in Ligue 1 since the end of the 2023/24 season, when they failed to pick up a single point in their final four matches. Home form has offered little reassurance either. A narrow 1-0 loss to Rennes on matchday 14 means Metz are now trying to avoid losing back-to-back home league games for the first time this season.

Their lack of attacking output has been a persistent issue, with the hosts scoring one goal or fewer in five home matches and drawing blanks in four of those encounters. Facing elite opposition has only amplified those shortcomings. Metz have conceded nine goals across three matches against teams currently occupying the top four, with their solitary success coming in a narrow 1-0 win over league leaders Lens.

That result stands as an outlier rather than a trend, and it underlines the scale of the challenge awaiting them this weekend. For PSG, the trip to Metz comes at an interesting juncture in their campaign. The Parisians sit second heading into matchday 16, just a point behind Lens, and already find themselves trailing last season’s pace by four points.

While a heavy 5-0 victory over Rennes reaffirmed their attacking potential, it also highlighted the inconsistency that has crept into Les Parisiens’ domestic campaign. There is little margin for error at the top, and PSG are edging closer to an unwanted milestone. Another defeat would see them suffer three losses in a single Ligue 1 season for the first time since 2022/23.

Defensively, there are positives to build on, with clean sheets recorded in back-to-back competitive fixtures since a narrow defeat to AS Monaco. However, their away form has raised concerns, with points dropped in three of their last four matches on the road across all competitions, including two scoreless outings.

History, though, offers PSG a significant psychological edge. The visitors have won their last 15 competitive meetings with Metz and have emerged victorious on each of their previous seven top-flight trips to Stade Saint-Symphorien.

That dominance, combined with the gulf in quality, makes PSG overwhelming favourites, even if their current form suggests this may not be a free-flowing display. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

FC Metz

FC Metz head into Saturday’s clash with PSG carrying a number of injury concerns that limit their options, particularly in defensive and wide areas. Pape Sy is expected to miss out after sustaining a head injury, with the medical staff unwilling to take any risks in such a demanding fixture.

Urie-Michel Mboula remains a major doubt due to a hamstring problem that has restricted his training time during the week, while Joseph Mangondo is also being assessed after struggling with a knee issue. Metz have no suspension concerns to contend with, but the lack of available depth could test their resilience against one of the league’s most potent attacks.

One of the few bright spots in recent weeks has been the form of captain Gauthier Hein. On Matchday 15, the midfielder found the net against his former club, registering his fifth goal of the season despite the defeat. His influence in advanced midfield areas will again be central to Metz’s hopes of creating chances and relieving pressure during what is expected to be a demanding evening.

From a tactical standpoint, Metz are likely to set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 formation against PSG, designed to offer defensive stability while allowing quick transitions forward. Jonathan Fischer is expected to be protected by a back four featuring Maxime Colin at right-back and Fode Ballo-Toure on the left, both tasked with limiting PSG’s wide threats. In central defence, Jean-Philippe Gbamin is likely to partner Sadibou Sane, combining physical presence with aerial strength in an effort to contain the visitors’ movement between the lines.

The double pivot in midfield should see Boubacar Traore and Jessy Deminguet operate in deeper roles, screening the defence and breaking up play while attempting to recycle possession efficiently. Ahead of them, a three-man attacking midfield line is expected to include Cheikh Sabaly on the right flank, Gauthier Hein in a central creative role, and Giorgi Tsitaishvili on the left, offering pace and direct running. Leading the line, Habib Diallo is set to start as the lone striker, tasked with occupying PSG’s centre-backs and capitalising on any rare opportunities that come Metz’s way.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fischer; Colin, Gbamin, Sane, F. Toure; Traore, Deminguet; Sabaly, Hein, Tsitaishvili; Diallo

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG make the trip to Metz with several notable absentees that slightly narrow Luis Enrique’s options, particularly in defensive and wide areas. Achraf Hakimi is ruled out after suffering a hamstring strain, removing one of PSG’s most influential attacking full-backs. On the opposite side, Nuno Mendes is also unavailable due to a thigh injury, while young defender Lucas Beraldo continues to miss out as he recovers from a calf problem.

Goalkeeping depth is affected as well, with Lucas Chevalier sidelined by an ankle issue. In attack, Ousmane Dembele remains a doubt after missing the midweek UEFA Champions League fixture through illness, and PSG are expected to take a cautious approach with his involvement. There are no suspension concerns for the visitors.

Even with those absences, PSG’s attacking resources remain extensive. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia comes into the fixture in excellent form, having scored twice in the previous league outing to reaffirm his growing importance in the final third. That same match also showcased the squad’s depth, with contributions from Senny Mayulu, Ibrahim Mbaye and Goncalo Ramos, underlining PSG’s ability to spread goals across the front line even when key figures are unavailable.

Tactically, PSG are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation that prioritises control in midfield while allowing their wide attackers freedom to attack isolated defenders. Matvey Safonov is set to start in goal, offering composure and reliability from the back.

The defensive line should see Warren Zaire-Emery deployed at right-back, providing energy and ball progression, with captain Marquinhos partnering Willian Pacho in central defence. Lucas Hernandez is likely to start at left-back, where his experience and defensive discipline will be vital in managing transitions.

In midfield, Senny Mayulu, Vitinha, and Joao Neves are expected to form a balanced trio. Vitinha should operate as the primary tempo-setter, dictating play from deeper areas, while Joao Neves provides defensive awareness and intelligent positioning. Mayulu adds dynamism and forward thrust, helping PSG progress quickly through the middle of the pitch.

Ahead of them, Lee Kang-in is expected to start from the right side of the front three, drifting inside to create overloads, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia operates from the left, offering direct running and creativity. Goncalo Ramos should lead the line as the central striker, tasked with occupying the centre-backs and finishing chances inside the penalty area.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hernandez; Mayulu, Vitinha, Neves; Kang-in, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia

Key Stats

• Paris Saint-Germain have won their last 15 competitive matches against FC Metz, a run that includes seven consecutive away victories at Stade Saint-Symphorien in Ligue 1.
• FC Metz have scored one goal or fewer in five of their home league matches this season, failing to find the net in four of those fixtures.
• Metz have conceded nine goals in three matches against teams currently inside the Ligue 1 top four, with their only win in that category coming against league leaders Lens.
• PSG have dropped points in three of their last four away matches across all competitions, failing to score in each of their two most recent away outings.
• Heading into matchday 16, PSG are one point off the top of the table, while Metz sit bottom of the Ligue 1 standings with just 11 points.

Player to Watch

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

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Kvaratskhelia enters this fixture in scintillating form and looks primed to be the decisive figure against Metz. The Georgian winger was outstanding last weekend, scoring twice in PSG’s emphatic league victory and once again underlining his growing importance in Luis Enrique’s attacking structure.

With several wide options unavailable, Kvaratskhelia has taken on added responsibility, operating with greater freedom to drift inside, isolate defenders, and dictate the tempo of PSG’s attacking play. What makes him such a dangerous presence in this match-up is his ability to destabilise low defensive blocks.

Metz are likely to sit deep and compact, but Kvaratskhelia’s close control, explosive change of direction, and willingness to attack defenders one-on-one make him ideally suited to breaking down such setups. He is equally effective arriving in central areas, where his shooting technique and composure in the final third pose a constant threat.

Beyond goals and assists, Kvaratskhelia’s work rate and tactical intelligence add another dimension to PSG’s play. His movement draws defenders out of position, creating space for teammates such as Goncalo Ramos to exploit. If PSG are to maintain their dominance over Metz and keep pace in the title race, Kvaratskhelia’s influence in the final third is likely to be central to that outcome.

Prediction

FC Metz 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain

Given the gap in quality, form, and historical dominance, PSG should have too much for Metz over the course of 90 minutes. The hosts’ struggles in front of goal, particularly at home, contrast sharply with PSG’s growing attacking rhythm and defensive stability in recent outings.

While Metz may show early resistance, PSG’s superior movement, depth, and individual quality, especially in advanced areas, should eventually tell, allowing the visitors to pull clear and secure a comfortable away victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Luis Enrique and his charges.