Metz kick off their third consecutive Ligue 1 campaign by hosting current champions Lille at the Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien. Metz finished in an impressive 10th place last year and haven’t competed in the top-flight for three straight years since 2007/08. The hosts were promoted from Ligue 2 in 2018/19 as champions but if they are to better their finish of 10th last season their home form will have to improve. The Maroons won just five of their 19 matches as hosts last term picking up just 20 points from a possible 57 and were beaten 2-0 by Lille when they visited back in April. That defeat was part of Metz’s dismal end to the campaign. Despite a top-half finish Metz won just one of their last 11 games to close the season.
Lille secured the fourth Ligue 1 title, 10 years removed from their last with victory last season. Since then though manager Christophe Galtier has moved on with Jocelyn Gourvennec taking over the champions. Despite the departures of goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Boubakary Soumare, who were instrumental in Lille’s title-winning season, Lille showed their grit and determination to defeat PSG for the Trophee des Champions last weekend. Lille lost just three times last season and boasted the league’s best defence conceding just 23 goals meaning they will be difficult to usurp as champions. The visitors were also the league’s best travellers last term, losing one whilst winning 14 of their 19 games on the road.