“FC Metz looks to maintain home undefeated streak against Grenoble in crucial Ligue 2 match”

This Saturday (7 p.m.), FC Metz welcomes Grenoble on the occasion of the thirty-fifth day of Ligue 2. A match whose result will have a real impact if Bordeaux loses against QRM in the 3 p.m. match. Undefeated at home since October 1, 2022, the Garnets will have to face Grenoble who want to end the season well.

After their victory at Niort (1-3), FC Metz (3rd) returned to their Stade Saint-Symphorien to challenge Grenoble (7th). A thirty-fifth chapter of the Ligue 2 book which the Garnets do not want to miss. Indeed, the Grenoble residents have nothing to play for because of the fifteen points behind second place. Additionally, players of Vincent Hognon will certainly want to restore their image after three defeats in the last five meetings. During the first leg, FC Metz won in Grenoble (0-1).

End the season with honors for Grenoble

Currently seventh in Ligue 2, Grenoble is looking to end a season that could have been better. After a sluggish start to the championship, the Isère club dreamed of Ligue 1 in October and November. Unfortunately, the machine jammed with a bad month of December (two defeats in two games). Since the beginning of the year, the GF38 has not been able to chain more than two successes in a row. Thus, the ambition to find the elite of French football moved away for the double champion of Ligue 2 (1960,1962). The good performance of Matthias Phaëton (9 goals, one assist) were not enough for Grenoble to clinch one of the first two places in the standings.

The player to watch

Arrived in July 2022 from Guingamp, Matthias Phaeton is Grenoble’s top scorer this season in Ligue 2 (33 games, 9 goals, one assist). However, he was slow to establish himself at the professional level. Phaëton started football at the age of five with Racing Club de France (2005-2014). He then joined Boulogne-Billancourt (2014-2015) then the Stade Brestois training center (2015-2017). After disciplinary problems, the native of Colombes was recruited by Guingamp in January 2018. He began his professional career in November 2018. While the Breton club was relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of the 2018-2019 season, the young forward – center plays four Ligue 1 games. He is then loaned during the winter transfer window to Bastia-Borgo (National), the following season.

However, he only played five games due to the stoppage of the championships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Back at Guingamp, the Colombians are actively participating in the 2020-2021 financial year (27 games, 3 goals in Ligue 2). He did the same at the start of the following season before losing his place in the starting lineup (22 games, one goal and one assist). With Grenoble, he is currently having the best season of his career while holding several times.

At 23, Matthias Phaeton has been selected with Guadeloupe since 2021 (14 caps, 5 goals). Previously, he made his range in the France U16 team (5 selections, 4 goals) and U17 (one selection).

Match stats

FC Metz has not lost to Grenoble since April 1, 2011. It was on the twenty-ninth day of Ligue 2 (0-1). With nine goals scored in seventeen games at Saint-Symphorien, Georges Mikautadze is FC Metz’s third top scorer at home behind Your Diafra (10 goals in 2013-2014) and Habib Diallo (20 goals in 2018-2019). He is also FC Metz’s second top scorer in a season in Ligue 2 with twenty-two goals behind. Habib Diallo (26 goals in 2018-2019).

Grenoble is the tenth best team in Ligue 2 away from home with nineteen points (5 wins, 4 draws, 8 losses). Grenoble is the eighteenth away attack with fourteen goals scored and the sixth defense with eighteen goals conceded. The GF38 is the thirteenth Ligue 2 team with the highest percentage of away possessions with 46.61%.