The Red Star delivered the shock of the Ligue 2 weekend by handing FC Metz its first defeat of the season with a disciplined 1-0 victory at Stade Bauer, according to match reports. Jovany Ikanga settled the contest in the 58th minute from the penalty spot, vaulting the Audoniens into fourth place in the early-season standings.
Metz entered the Monday fixture riding high after a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Rodez, aiming to extend an unbeaten run that positioned them among the promotion contenders. Instead, head coach Luc Holtz’s side stumbled in Saint-Ouen, mirroring a narrow defeat at the same venue in 2024. Despite struggling to dominate possession against a visiting squad featuring experienced campaigners like Téji Savanier and Bouna Sarr, Damien Perrinelle’s Red Star side relied on relentless defensive grit and vertical transitions to secure their first home win since April.
Stade Bauer Stalemate Breaks After Halftime
The first half unfolded slowly before a crowd of 4,444 spectators who packed the historic stadium’s single open tribune, with visiting fans absent from the fixture. Metz goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer kept his side level early by denying Kémo Cissé with a sharp,-semivolley save in the 14th minute. The visitors slowly regained a foothold as Pape Moussa Fall fired just wide in the 36th minute, followed by Giorgi Abuashvili testing Red Star goalkeeper Gaëtan Poussin from close range right before the break.
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Referee whistles sounded, and Jovany Ikanga stepped up to convert the resulting 58th-minute penalty, firing low to the right past a diving Fischer. Ikanga nearly doubled the advantage eight minutes later with a header that skimmed past the target, while substitutes Idrissa Sabaly and Damien Durand kept the Metz defense under intense pressure with long-range efforts and acrobatic volleys.
Standings Implications and Next Fixtures
Metz offered little response in the closing stages aside from a dangerous set-piece delivery by Téji Savanier that Cristian Devenish failed to turn home from inside the six-yard box. The 1-0 defeat leaves Les Grenats searching for answers ahead of a crucial home fixture against league leaders Saint-Étienne at Stade Saint-Symphorien.
For the Red Star, the three points pull them level with Montpellier on points, trailing only on goal difference as they sit fourth in the table. Perrinelle’s men face a short turnaround before traveling to face Guingamp on Saturday afternoon in their final outing before the international break.
