Nathan Mbala Turns Professional
Benoît Tavenot, speaking on Ligue 1+, and Bernard Serin, in the mixed zone of Roazhon Park, sold the wick Sunday night after FC Metz’s draw with Rennes (0-0). The young Nathan Mbala, so refreshing on the Lorraine attack line, was set to sign his first pro contract with his training club on Monday, after joining from US Forbach as a goalkeeper. It was only in 2023 – just three years ago – that the left-hander definitively entered the scene with success.
Weekend Results
LIGUE 1. Rennes – FC Metz: 0-0. Thanks to Pape Sy’s saves in particular, FC Metz earned a point but remain bottom of the table.
SECONDE LIGUE. FC Metz – Grenoble: 1-1. Marine Morel’s girls, equalized in stoppage time, fall into the relegation zone.
NATIONAL 3. FC Metz – Drancy: 1-1. Also pegged back late, the reserves miss out on a chance to climb the standings.
U19. Saint-Priest – FC Metz: 0-2. Thanks to goals from Mathis Holo and Jules Thouvenot, the second-placed team closes in on the leader Clermont by 7 points.
U17. Thionville Lusitanos – FC Metz: 2-4. With a win in the Moselle derby, FC Metz remains in 4th place.
VETERANS. Esap Metz – FC Metz: 0-4. Three wins in three matches for the veteran Grenats.
International Break Schedule
After their draw in Rennes on Sunday (0-0), the Messins will return to training grounds on Tuesday before a closed-door friendly match on Wednesday (11:30) at Frescaty against RFC Seraing, to “balance playing time,” explains Benoît Tavenot. His players will train again on Thursday and Friday before a three-day break, in this international break period, and resume the following Tuesday. “The idea is to find some mental freshness and balance the workload in terms of physical work for players who have played less. Now, we have players on national duty,” adds the Corsican technician. “I hope we will recover everyone in good condition the Wednesday before Nantes”. This match is scheduled for Sunday, April 5 at 5:15 pm.
For reference, here is the schedule of internationals.
➤ Habib Diallo (Senegal): Friendly matches against Peru on Saturday, March 28 (5 p.m.) at Stade de France and against Gambia on March 31 in Diamniadio.
➤ Yannis Lawson (Togo): Friendly matches against Guinea on March 27 in Rabat and against Niger on March 31 in Casablanca.
➤ Michel Mboula (Gabon): Friendly matches against Uzbekistan on March 27 and against Trinidad and Tobago on March 30.
➤ Believe Munongo (French U17): Second round of Euro U17 qualifications in Slovenia against Slovenia on Wednesday, March 25 (4 p.m.) in Radomlje, North Macedonia on Saturday, March 28 (4 p.m.) in Grosuplje, and Germany on Tuesday, March 31 (4:30 p.m.) in Radomlje.
➤ Giorgi Tsitaishvilli (Georgia): Friendly matches against Israel on March 26 (6 p.m.) and Lithuania on March 29 (3 p.m).
Reprogrammed Match
Originally scheduled for 8:45 p.m. on Friday, April 10, FC Metz’s match against Olympique de Marseille in the 29th round of Ligue 1 will now kick off at 9:05 p.m.
