Amid a raft of missing players, PSG have suffered two straight defeats to open the season - the first such occurrence since 1984/85. With three red cards in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Marseille, PSG are now in danger of losing an unbeaten Ligue 1 (L1) home run vs Metz that dates back to March 1997. On that topic, seven of the last eight top-flight H2Hs have produced over 1.5 first-half goals.
The champions’ defeat to Marseille was their first home league loss since September 2019, and marked only the fifth L1 home game PSG have failed to win since the start of 2018/19 (D3, L2). Half (six) of the 12 goals across the draws fell inside the first 15 minutes of either half.
Going back to January 2005, Metz have lost all of their last 12 L1 matches against a reigning champion while failing to score a single first-half goal (HT: D3, L9). Four of the five H2Hs vs PSG therein saw them lose the first half 2-0. Meanwhile, every away defeat in that 12-game sequence also saw a losing margin of 2+ goals.
If Metz are to prevent a 13th consecutive L1 loss to a reigning league champion, it could be interesting to note that four of their last six L1 away games won/drawn have seen them open the scoring inside the first 30 minutes.
Players to watch: PSG star Ángel Di María returned in Sunday’s defeat. Each of his last six L1 strikes have come in the first half, and of the last four of those, three have served to put PSG 2-0 up.
Metz man Farid Boulaya scored the winner in his side’s last away victory. His last three competitive goals have each been match closers.
Hot stat: Of the 13 L1 H2Hs played in Paris since (and including) March 1997, only two have seen Metz manage a first-half goal.