Ligue 1: author of a double, Georges Mikautadze saves Metz against RC Lens

After three unsuccessful matches, the Lensois wanted to bounce back if they did not want to see the Champions League go away for good. Sixth at kick-off, Franck Haise’s men traveled to the penultimate Messins who had just suffered three defeats against Reims, Monaco and Brest. Above all, the Garnets had only won two home matches since the start of the Ligue 1 season.

The evening had started well for Lens, quickly taking the lead thanks to a penalty in the 11th minute from Florian Sotoca after a foul by Metz goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja on Wesley Saïd, preferred to Elye Wahi. Dominated in the minutes following the opening score, the Messins regained momentum and forced Samba to make a fine save on a header from Traoré in the 27th minute.

The equalizer came seven minutes later thanks to Georges Mikautadze. Back in Metz since mid-season, the Georgian is doing good for the Grenats and has once again turned into a scorer after his double in Brest. First at the end of a superb sequence in the 34th before a magnificent dive ball which ends in the Lensois goal just before the break.

Franck Haise will have tried everything

The Lensois certainly did not expect to see their opponents in front at the break. But leaving Saint-Symphorien with a defeat was unacceptable for Franck Haise who chose to make four changes in the 60th minute of play to return to a more offensive 4-3-3. Returning in place of Jonathan Gradit, Adrien Thomasson attempted a distant lob while Oukidja was far from his goal line. The Lensois’ fifth off-target strike in as many attempts in the second half.

In a Saint-Symphorien filled with stress, the Metz goalkeeper reassured an entire stadium twice in added time to ensure success for his team. With 26 points, they take a five-point lead over last-placed Clermont and come back level with Lorient, who will not play this weekend due to PSG’s Champions League quarter-final return leg.

Transferred to Ajax Amsterdam at the end of August, Georges Mikautadze never managed to establish himself in the Amsterdam team and returned to Lorraine mid-season on loan. With this double, the Metz striker scored his sixth and seventh goals since his return to Metz. Enough to build confidence before competing in the first Euro in Georgia’s history.