The two clubs met only on the last matchday of Ligue 1, and the cup match between AS Monaco and FC Metz is scheduled for this week. As in the French top flight, the Monegasques are again favoured by the best bookmakers. Meanwhile, odds of less than 1.40 are offered for a home win by Monaco against Metz.
The “Grenats” from Metz lost the weekend match against the ASM with 0:4, with all four goals conceded after the change of ends. For long stretches of the first half, the ninth-placed team in the table was able to defy the Monegasques’ strong offensive. The aim now is to build on this in the last 16 of the Coupe de France.
Looking back on the strong performance of the Monegasques, it is nevertheless more than risky to make a prediction on a progression of the visitors in Monaco against Metz. After all, AS Monaco are the strongest home team in Ligue 1 and have not lost a single home game this calendar year.
Prediction & Live Odds for Monaco vs. Metz 06/04/2021
AS Monaco took three important points in the Ligue 1 title race with a home win over Metz and even overtook their neighbours Lyon. Only four points separate the ASM from the top of the table, so Ligue 1 is currently the top priority for the Monegasques. This weekend, they have to face Dijon.
For the time being, however, head coach Niko Kovac’s team will focus on their home game in the last 16 of the Coupe de France, where they will once again host the visitors from Metz at the Stade Louis II. Despite the double burden, Kovac will probably do without a larger rotation and rely on a similar starting eleven as in the comfortable home victory (4:0) last weekend.
Meanwhile, FC Metz’s form crisis in the French top flight has worsened. Head coach Antonetti’s team remained winless in Ligue 1 for the fourth time in a row, further diminishing their hopes of finishing the season among the top six teams. In the cup, the “Grenats” now have the chance to limit the damage.
Although the visitors should not be underestimated, we see the Monegasques as clear favourites in the cup after their strong performance last weekend. We therefore expect another home win at the Stade Louis II and place our bet on Monaco vs. Metz at attractive odds on a handicap win for the home side with at least a two-goal difference (1 -1.5 AH).
Monaco – Statistics & current form
With a home win against FC Metz, AS Monaco not only punished the draw by their neighbours from Lyon, but also reduced the gap in the title race. Only four points separate the Monegasques from the top of the table. In the final spurt of the season, there are still realistic chances of winning the championship.
For the time being, however, head coach Niko Kovac’s team will turn its attention to the upcoming cup match, where the ASM will once again host the guests from Metz at the Stade Louis II. After the 4-0 win in Ligue 1, AS Monaco will go into the cup match as clear favourites. A quarter-final berth in the Coupe de France is a distinct possibility thanks to the Monegasques’ strong home record.
Among other things, the assessment can be justified by the strong home record this season. In the 16 home games of the current season, the Red and Whites have a record of 10-5-1, making them the strongest home team in the French top flight. The only home defeat in the 2020/21 season came against Lens, where the ASM were outnumbered for long periods.
Is the ASM attack rolling over Metz again?
The third-placed team in Ligue 1 has not conceded a goal in its last three home games, yet the Monegasque side’s attack remains the flagship. Statistically, ASM boast the second strongest attacking department in the league behind sheikh club PSG. On average, more than two goals were scored per Ligue 1 match in the French top flight.
Wissam Ben Yedder played a major part in this, adding two goals to his tally in the recent home game against FC Metz. It is quite possible that Ben Yedder will be in the starting eleven on Tuesday evening. Jovetic will probably be on the bench instead. Major changes compared to the starting eleven in Ligue 1 are not expected.
So far, ASM have won the Coupe de France against Grenoble (1-0) and Nice (2-0), but only played the latter with their best line-up. If the Monegasques celebrate a quarter-final spot against the “Grenats” this week, odds of 1.47 are paid on Monaco vs Metz for tip 1.
Predicted Monaco line-up:
Lecomte – Caio, Disasi, Maripan, Sidibe – Matazo, Fofana – Martins, Golovin, Diatta – Ben Yedder
Metz – Statistics & current form
Although head coach Antonetti had to contend with personnel problems in the away match in Monaco, FC Metz stood up to the third-placed team in Ligue 1 for long stretches of the first half. However, as in the home defeat against Stade Rennes the previous matchday, Metz lacked the necessary offensive power to really threaten AS Monaco.
In the closing stages, Boye was also sent to the catacombs after receiving his second yellow card of the game, further exacerbating the personnel situation ahead of the next matchday in Ligue 1. The 33-year-old centre-back will at least be available for the last 16 of the Coupe de France.
However, Cabit, Nguette, Niani, Pajot and Tchimbembe are still out, and Oukidja is also still unavailable following his suspension by the French Football Federation. The changes in the starting eleven should therefore remain manageable.
Next away defeat at the Stade Louis II from the ASM?
The Metz Grenats have a 6-5-5 record away from home this season, putting the ninth-placed side in the top eight away teams in Ligue 1. Prior to the recent away defeat at AS Monaco, Metz had gone five away games unbeaten in a row across the competition, with particularly strong performances from their attack.
For the first time since the away defeat at “ASSE” almost two months ago, the “Grenats” failed to score on foreign soil against AS Monaco. Nevertheless, we don’t think it’s far-fetched to predict a “both score” in the upcoming cup match between Monaco and Metz, as the supposed favourites don’t always present themselves from their best side in the cup.
Predicted Metz line-up:
Caillard – Bronn, Boye, Kouyaté – Udol, Sarr, Maiga, Centonze – Boulaya – Yade, Gueye