Rennes v Metz: European push meets relegation fight | OneFootball

Rennes host Metz in Ligue 1 at Roazhon Park on Sunday, 22 March 2026, with the hosts chasing European spots and the visitors trying to halt a deep slide in the relegation zone.

Rennes sit seventh with 43 points and have dominated this fixture, winning nine of the past 12 Ligue 1 meetings, including a 1-0 victory away in November. Metz are 18th on 13 points and need an upturn to stay in touch.

Form points to momentum with the hosts: four league wins in five preceded a narrow 2-1 defeat by Lille, a run that included a 4-0 success at Nice and a 3-1 win over PSG. Metz arrive on a five-match losing streak, most recently a 4-3 home reverse to Toulouse after defeats to Lens and Brest.

Selection-wise, Rennes list Jérémy Jacquet as injured. Metz have Boubacar Traoré, Cleo Mélières and Joseph Mangondo sidelined, trimming options across midfield, defence and attack.

On the pitch, Rennes average 1.7 goals per match with 52% possession and have scored nine headers, so deliveries from wide may trouble a Metz back line that has conceded 60 league goals. Estéban Lepaul, joint-second in the scoring chart on 14 goals, leads the home threat, with Mousa Al-Taamari and Valentin Rongier supplying chances. For Metz, Gauthier Hein's six goals and four assists suggest he could be their spark in transition.

A home win would take Rennes to 46 points and could nudge them closer to the European places. Victory for Metz would move them to 16 points and cut the gap to safety, keeping survival hopes alive.