Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Match 18, 18/01/26

RC Strasbourg Alsace would host rivals FC Metz in the Derby de l’Est, with both teams looking to end a poor run of results in the league. 

The Match

It would be a fresh face on the touchline for Strasbourg as Gary O’Neil took the reins in his first Ligue 1 fixture. The head coach would be provided a welcome start when Julio Enciso threaded a through ball past the Metz backline to find Diego Moreira. The winger swept forward and finished to give Strasbourg the lead in the 12th minute. 

Twelve minutes later, and Strasbourg would be faced with a setback as Metz made a rare foray into the penalty box. Martial Godo brought down the former Strasbourg midfielder Jessy Deminguet. It was a soft challenge, but enough contact to convince the referee to point to the spot, where Gauthier Hein squeezed his shot low and to the left of Mike Penders. 

Strasbourg ramped up the pressure, sensing an opportunity to retake the lead late in the first half. Guela Doué, recently back from the Africa Cup of Nations, swung in a cross from the right and found the diminutive Godo. The winger leaped the highest to head home and make amends for his earlier mistake. 

The pressure continued into the second half as Metz courted disaster by continuing to play out from the back. Sadibou Sané was targeted by Strasbourg’s pressure and twice gave up possession close to his goal. Enciso had a chance to make it three on the first of these two turnovers. However, his finishing was left wanting. 

It was the story of Strasbourg’s afternoon. They controlled the ball well, but their quality in front of goal was sparse. Metz struggled to offer much threat outside of their first-half penalty, and in the end, it was a comfortable derby win for a Strasbourg side who ended a run of five league fixtures without tasting victory. 

For Metz, they would lose the local bragging rights and remain at the foot of the Ligue 1 table. A point would have been enough for them to jump ahead of AJ Auxerre. 

Strasbourg Player Ratings

Mike Penders, 5

Ben Chilwell, 6

Ismaël Doukouré, 7

Lucas Høgsberg, 6

Replaced by Abdoul Ouattara in the 64th minute. 

Guela Doué, 7

Samir El Mourabet, 5

Valentín Barco, 5

When he’s on song, there is perhaps no better player on the pitch for Strasbourg. However, he struggled to impose himself on this game. There were moments where he made the attack velvety smooth, but those were often few and far between. 

Martial Godo, 6

Replaced by Félix Lemarechal in the 80th minute. 

Julio Enciso, 6

In the first half, he looked as if he was going to have a standout afternoon when he opened up the Metz defence and found Diego Moreira. Strasbourg have missed a creative presence in the no.10 role this season. He had a few moments where it looked like it was all coming together, but it never did. His miss in the second half when one-on-one with the keeper was emblematic of a player who threatens to become pivotal, but struggles to take that final step. Replaced by Sam Amo-Ameyaw in the 80th minute.

Diego Moreira, 7

Replaced in the 93rd minute by Kendry Páez. 

Joaquín Panichelli, 5

The striker was the cream of the crop at the start of the season and had people questioning whether Chelsea had bought the wrong Strasbourg striker when they swooped for Emanuel Emegha. However, his lightning start has become sluggish, and his confidence looks as if it has slipped away. He was effective out of possession, but he looks blunted in front of the goal. 

Metz Selected Player Ratings

Jonathan Fischer, 6

Sadibou Sané, 4

Gauthier Hein, 5