Lionel Messi's life in Paris is going to be more complicated than expected after three outings and still without a goal. Messi looked perplexed when he was taken off in the 75th minute of a league match against Olympique Lyon on Sunday (September 19). Mauricio Pochettino clarified his stance in the post-match press conference. According to his remark, Messi has a slight injury and he did not want to risk him. PSG's next league encounter is on Wednesday (September 22) against Metz. Will Lionel Messi start this match for PSG? The match preview of Metz vs. PSG is discussed in this article.
Probable Team Lineups: Metz vs. PSG
A good number of Metz players are injured, and three of them will miss the rest of the season. So, they are concerned about picking the best starting XI for this matchup.
Probable Playing XI (Metz): Alexandre Oukidja (GK), Kiki Kouyate, Dylan Bronn, Matthieu Udol, Fabien Centonze, Habib Maiga, Pape Sarr, Pape Ndiaga Yade, Lamine Gueye, Farid Boulaya, Ibrahima Niane
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Aside from Lionel Messi's knee issue, Paris-Saint-Germain have a long list of injuries to worry about. A number of PSG's key players were ruled out of the match against Metz due to injuries. The Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, regular captain Marquinhos, Brazilian Rafinha, Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Spanish left-back Juan Bernat all will miss this fixture. However, the absence of those players will not make PSG's team any weaker than their opponent. They have enough depth in their squad to deploy a solid starting lineup against Metz.
Probable Playing XI (PSG): Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK), Achraf Hakimi, Presnel Kimpembe, Thilo Kehrer, Nuno Mendes, Ander Herrera, Georginio Wijnaldum, Leandro Paredes, Ángel Di María, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar
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Head-to-Head: Metz vs. PSG
Both teams have met 34 times in total, with PSG leading the head-to-head battle with 23 victories. On the other hand, Metz have only won six games and five have resulted in a draw.
All of Metz's victories over PSG have come in league matches, while PSG have won a league cup match in addition to 22 league matches.
PSG have won 13 games at Saint-Symphorien, with the remaining 10 triumphs coming at Parc des Princes.
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Prediction: FC Metz vs. Paris-Saint Germain
Paris Saint-Germain are the clear favorite to win the league match against FC Metz on Wednesday (September 22). Metz will have a very slim chance in this match if PSG play to their full potential.
Mauricio Pochettino has a variety of attacking options at his disposal. He could go all-in against the home team. If not, he may choose to play it safe and try to finish the game as quickly as possible. If Messi plays, PSG's best option will be a 4-3-3 formation. However, if Messi is rested, PSG may opt for a 4-2-3-1 system with Neymar upfront.
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On the other hand, FC Metz can only hope to save this match. So, they may use a 5-3-2 formation to strengthen the defensive line. Metz's main goal would be to block PSG's attack and fight till the end for a glorious draw.
Prediction: Metz 1 – 4 PSG
Verdict
With or without Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain are the favorite in the Metz vs. PSG match. Because Metz are currently in the bottom position in the points table with three points from six games, while PSG are in the first position with a perfect record after six matches. They have enough strength in the squad to overcome Metz even if their best players are rested. Metz will be sorely tested at home in order to avoid a humiliating defeat. Things might become even worse for the host team if Lionel Messi does indeed play for PSG in this match.
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