Metz 1-5 PSG 5: match report, goals, as it happened
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Metz 1-5 PSG:
Looking at the scoreline, one could be deceived to thinking that this was the usual PSG juggernaut imposing itself in crushing the small provincial side from Lorraine. This is true to a point but the rash tackle by former Spurs and QPR player Assou-Ekotto on PSG debutant Kylian Mbappe which earned the Cameroon international a straight red card was the pivotal moment in tonight's game.
The Parisian side started brightly with Metz clearly intimidated by a side boosted with the sight of the most expensive French player of all time lining up at the compact Stade Saint-Symphorien. The opening goal duly arrived after consistent pressure from the men from the capital as Edinson Cavani latched onto a delightful assist from Neymar to put the Parisian side ahead.
Metz respond
Instead of cowing and breaking under pressure Metz were valiant in lauching a fifgt-back and were gifted in the 37th minute as Riviere nodded home after poor defending from the men in yellow. From this moment through to the interval and leading up to the sending off, the side in burgundy were arguably the better side with Riviere gifted a golden opportunity just after the interval after a mix-up between Marquinhos and Areola which he blazed over the bar.
Straight red
No sooner had they found themselves down to ten men, Metz were also a goal behind as Mbappe opened his PSG account and from that moment on, the emotional blow ensured that as a game the contest at the Saint-Symphorien was over. Cavani grabbed another after the sublime had put Paris 1-3 ahead. As the game tricked out, Lucas Moura added to Metz's woes adding a fifth to make the scoreline that suggest this game was a rout for Unai Emery's side.
Metz coach Hinschberger (also red carded for disputing the sending off) will be encouraged by what he saw but also thinking "what if" had his men played with a full side against the Ligue 1 leaders. PSG head off to Glasgow for Champions League action and welcome Lyon to Parc des Princes next weekend as they look to maintain their perfect start to the 17/18 campaign.
Metz vs PSG live
Could the spectators at Metz's Stade Saint-Symphorien be set to witness the debut of teenage sensation Kylian Mbappé in a PSG shirt or will Unai Emery adopt a prudent approach and ease the youngster and most expensive French footballer in history into the fray bit-by-bit?
Metz have had a dreadful start to the campaign and lie rock bottom of the Ligue 1 table with zero points to their name and have just found the opposition net on one occasion of the four games played to date this season with Nolan Roux on target for the men in Burgundy.
PSG are flying high and have convincingly outplayed all opponents in securing maximum points and it's very, very, very difficult to see the home side getting anything from the game with the firepower the Parisian side have at their disposable with a formidable striking trio of Edinson Cavini, Neymar Jr. and possibly Mbappé looking to wreak havoc on the Metz rear-guard.
The side from the Lorraine region can take a glimmer of hope from last season's performance at the Saint-Symphorien when it took an injury time winner for the side from the capital to secure maximum points with Blaise Matudi bagging in the 93rd minute after it appeared that Diabate had tied the game in the 88th minute for Metz.
Metz team news
Late signings Emmanuel Riviere and Philipp Wallscheid are expected to make their Metz debuts at some point during the encounter and the home faithful will look to marksman Roux to try and trouble the PSG back-line.
Metz head coach Philippe Hinschberger claimed in his pre-match press conference that he would look to the collective of his side to combat the individual excellence in the PSG team.
The small city of Metz is expectant with all 25.000 seats for the stadium now sold-out with locals anxious to see if their side are capable of pulling out the first major surprise of the 2017/18 Ligue 1 campaign and take points off the giants from Paris.
PSG team news
Thiago Silva and Angel di Maria are both out with hamstring injuries, and join Lucas on the sidelines. Di Maria's absence could see Emery opting to play new signing Mbappé alongside Edinson Cavani and Neymar on Friday.
Marco Verratti is back from suspension and the Italian player will slot back into a central midfield role.
When asked about the possibility of the most expensive player in French history starting in Metz, Unai Emery hinted that the 18 year will almost certainly play some role in Friday's game stating: "Mbappé is ready. He took part in training with the rest of the squad on Monday and Tuesday even if, because he had played for France, it was rather about recovery. On Wednesday and Thursday, he'll take part in the sessions. He's ready to be in the squad at Metz and so he could start playing with us. He really wants to get stuck into this adventure."
Metz vs PSG live stream: potential line-ups
Metz XI: Kawashima, Balliu, Bisevac, Wallscheid, Assou-Ekotto,Cafu, Poblette,Jallow, Cohade, Fernandez & Roux
PSG XI: Areola,Meunier, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa,Verratti, Motta, Rabiot, Mbappe, Cavani, Neymar
Metz vs PSG live stream online: betting and odds
High flying an big spending PSG travel to bottom side Metz with 0 points after four games and just a solitary goal scored for their trouble. A home win ? A long shot at 26/1!
Place your bet on Metz v PSG here:
