FC Metz, the team coached by Ladislau Boloni, secured an important victory in the fight to stay in Ligue 1, winning 2-1 at home on Friday against Lens in the first match of the 29th round.
Lens, the runner-up from last season, opened the scoring through Florian Sotoca in the 13th minute from a penalty. Newly-promoted Metz, coming off three consecutive defeats, turned the tide of the game thanks to the double scored by Georgian forward Georges Mikautadze (34, 45+3).
Metz has accumulated 26 points and remains in 17th place, second to last, directly facing relegation, tied on points with Lorient, the team in 16th place, which at the end of the season involves playing a match to avoid relegation.
Lens is in 6th place with 43 points, and now has slim chances of qualifying for the next edition of the Champions League. The team led by Franck Haise has only earned one point in the last four matches.