In a thrilling encounter at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, FC Metz was held to a 2-2 draw against Red Star on April 19, 2025, during the 31st matchday of Ligue 2. The result leaves Metz three points behind the playoff spots, with their hopes of direct promotion to Ligue 1 now hanging by a thread.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as fans turned out in droves to support their team, but the Grenats left the pitch with heads hung low after a match that started brightly but ended in disappointment. Metz took an early lead when Kévin Van den Kerkhof scored with a stunning volley just eight minutes into the game, connecting perfectly with a cross from Matthieu Udol to make it 1-0.
However, the home side's failure to capitalize on their early advantage proved costly. After a period of relative calm, Red Star struck back in the 32nd minute when Damien Durand equalized, slipping the ball under the arms of Metz goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart after a well-timed assist from Kémo Cissé. The visitors had been relatively quiet up to that point, but their opportunistic goal shifted the momentum.
As the second half began, Metz struggled to regain control. Defensive lapses continued to plague their performance, and in the 54th minute, Cissé capitalized on another mistake. After a poor clearance from the Grenats, he found himself in space and fired home to give Red Star a shocking 2-1 lead.
With their chances of automatic promotion slipping away, Metz coach Stéphane Le Mignan made tactical changes, bringing on Idrissa Gueye and Ablie Jallow to inject some urgency into the attack. The decision paid off when Gueye, who had just entered the fray, equalized in the 74th minute with a powerful header from a corner taken by Jessy Deminguet, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Despite the equalizer, the final minutes saw Metz push hard for a winner, but they were met with a resilient Red Star defense. The visitors, who had been struggling for form recently, displayed impressive organization and determination, with goalkeeper Robin Risser making crucial saves to keep the score level.
The match ended with both teams sharing the spoils, but it was a bitter pill for Metz to swallow. They now sit third in the league, three points behind both Paris FC and Lorient, who are vying for the two automatic promotion spots. The draw marked Metz's tenth stalemate of the season, a statistic that may ultimately prove detrimental to their promotion ambitions.
In the aftermath of the match, Le Mignan expressed his disappointment, stating, "We had the chances to win, but we didn’t take them. We need to be more clinical in front of goal and tighten up our defense if we want to achieve our goals this season." His sentiments were echoed by the players, who acknowledged the need for improvement in their upcoming matches.
For Red Star, the draw was a morale booster as they continue to fight against relegation, now sitting four points clear of the relegation playoff spot. Coach Grégory Poirier praised his team's defensive effort, saying, "We showed great character and resilience today. This point is vital for our confidence as we head into the final stretch of the season."
Looking ahead, FC Metz will face Pau next Saturday, April 26, 2025, in what is now a must-win game if they hope to keep their promotion hopes alive. Meanwhile, Red Star will look to build on this performance as they prepare for their next match against Clermont, aiming to secure their place in Ligue 2 for another season.
As the season nears its conclusion, the pressure mounts for both teams, with every point crucial in their respective battles. Metz must find a way to turn draws into wins, while Red Star will aim to maintain their newfound momentum.
