7.2.2018.

PICK OF THE DAY

Metz - Caen

Tip : 3+ (over 2.5)

Odd : 2.00

FT : 1:1 Lost

If someone had told Metz manager Frédéric Hantz that his side would score three goals on their visit to Marseille last Friday, he probably would’ve laughed. He also would’ve imagined his side walking away with something if they scored three. Score three they did; however, since Marseille netted six, Metz came away empty handed. After such a poor result, the hosts need a reprieve.

Like Metz, Caen also scored three last time out, though they came out on top, as they defeated Nantes 3-2 in front of a home crowd. Such a result was needed after defeat prior to that, and the visitors will be hoping to put together a run of form.

From a betting point of view, it’s not overly easy to fancy either of the teams, especially at the prices. Metz have improved their fortunes at home of late, but they’re far from rock-solid, while Caen can be tough to beat but they’ve struggled for results on the road in recent weeks. Rather than back either team to win, the selection that stands out, at the prices, is ‘Over 2.5 Goals’.

Where the improvement has arrived as far as Metz are concerned, is up front. In recent weeks, especially at home, Hantz’s side have started to offer far more going forward. They’re getting on the front foot and are generally creating more chances and scoring more goals. Having notched nine goals in their last four matches, as well as having scored three at Marseille last time out, Metz will be backing themselves to cause Caen problems in this match, though they are likely to encounter problems of their own at the back.

Scoring goals hasn’t been much of a problem for this Metz side of late, but as Friday’s hammering at Marseille suggests, keeping them out certainly has been. Wednesday’s hosts have kept just two clean sheets at home this season. As they do tend to get forward, the opposition often profit on the counter. Unsurprisingly, ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ has landed in 67% of Metz’s home matches.

What with Metz being a side who really do struggle to keep the door shut defensively, there’s reason for the visitors to fancy their chances going forward, though they too may find it hard to defend. As we saw on Sunday, when conceding twice against Nantes, though Caen aren’t as open-looking as Metz, they can certainly be undone. The visitors have scored in each of their last three, but they’re without a clean sheet during that time.

Caen may not have been involved in many goal-filled matches this season, though that has begun to change of late, but against a Metz side who often end up in end-to-end, fast paced encounters, the visitors could to be sucked into one here.

All things considered, in a game that really could go either way, backing a relatively high-scoring encounter to unfold is the way to go.