2025 Ligue 1 Champions Final Preview

Match preview

Paris Saint Germain will seek, at least temporarily, to return back to the top of League 1 table, heaping more misery on bottom club Metz.

The defending champions are a point behind surprise leaders Lance but are expected to pile the pressure on Pierre Sage’s men by returning to their familiar position at the top of French football with an emphatic win at Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Luis Enrique’s men were held to a 0-0 draw by Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, but with this game coming off the back of a 5-0 demolition of Rennes at the Parc des Princes, PSG will likely have no problem rediscovering their scoring touch against a Metz side beaten 3-1 by fellow strugglers Auxerre last outing.

This weekend marks the final round of Ligue 1 fixtures before the winter break, although PSG still have something of a busy schedule ahead of them as they play for FIFA Intercontinental Cup title next Wednesday before kicking off their Coupe de France campaign a week on Saturday with a match against fifth-tier side Vendée Fontenay Foot.

While they will be heavy favorites for this clash and the previous encounter in Saudi Arabia with either Flamengo or Egypt’s Pyramids, the prospect of three games in seven games is likely to mean some rotation from Luis Enrique as he manages a team already dealing with several injuries.

Still, the priority will be to ensure they don’t suffer a mistake that leaves them playing catch-up in a surprisingly competitive title race after the mid-season break, and there is little hope of Metz facing a PSG side distracted by their impending opportunity to win more silverware.

Metz vs PSG team news

PSG are likely to be without several first-team players again.

It remains to be seen whether Ousmane Dembele will return after missing the draw with Athletic due to illness.

Ahraf Hakimi is out with a hamstring strain, while Nuno Mendes has a thigh problem and Lucas Beraldo has a thigh problem. Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier’s ankle injury should see him miss out again.