Metz vs Lille Prediction: Card for Kouao as Perraud poses problems

Relegation-threatened FC Metz host another struggling side on a long winless run in Ligue 1, Lille OSC, at the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Friday night (19:45 GMT, Ligue 1 Pass).

Below are my Metz vs Lille predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Jean-Philippe Gbamin is suspended for Metz following his dismissal in last Sunday's 1-0 loss at Angers SCO, while Mamadou Sy (concussion), Joseph Mangondo and Bouna Sarr (both knee) are set to sit this one out for Benoit Tavenot's side, too.

Football Odds

As for Lille, head coach Bruno Genesio is likely missing Thomas Meunier (hamstring), Hamza Igamane, Ousmane Toure (both knee), Marc-Aurele Caillard (elbow), Andre Gomes (muscle) and Nabil Bentaleb (back).

Metz vs Lille Odds

Metz, who have lost seven and drawn one of their eight games since last winning against OGC Nice on November 9, are, unsurprisingly, 18/5 underdogs, implying a 21.7% probability of success, while Lille, who have lost all four Ligue 1 matches in 2026, last tasting league success at AJ Auxerre (3-4) on December 14, are 4/6, or a 60% chance.

The draw is offered at 3/1, and one of Betfred's Price Boosts is Lille To Win Both Halves at 7/2 (was 3/1).

Player to Receive a Card - Koffi Kouao (MET) @ 12/5

Metz right-back Koffi Kouao, who is averaging 1.2 fouls per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 this season, has received six yellow cards in 17 appearances.

Two of the 27-year-old's bookings have come in his four games this calendar year, and he could be in for a tough evening on Friday.

Today's Football Fixtures

Lille winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo is averaging 1.4 fouls won per 90 in Ligue 1 this season, and in his last two competition appearances, the Spaniard has drawn a yellow-card challenge from a right-back.

Strasbourg's Guela Doue was booked for upending the 21-year-old on January 25, and last Saturday, Lyon's Ainsley Maitland-Niles was cautioned for an unfair challenge on the Lille attacker.

Player to Have 2 or More Shots - Romain Perraud (LIL) @ 2/1

Despite primarily playing as a left-back, Lille's Romain Perraud, formerly of Southampton, is averaging 1.3 shots per 90 in this season's Ligue 1 and 1.9 shots per 90 in this season's Uefa Europa League.

The 28-year-old has recorded 2+ shots in three of his last four starts across all competitions, including a couple in last Sunday's 1-0 league defeat to Lyon.

Perraud also shot twice in his side's 6-1 victory over Metz in October, scoring with his second effort, and the Frenchman is a nice price to register another couple of attempts on Friday.