In Burgundy, Metz’s new era began with a jolt rather than a lift as Gregory Proment watched his side collapse early before Dijon claimed a 4-2 victory.
The Ligue 1 news
Proment’s first competitive match in charge of his former club ended in defeat, with Metz overwhelmed during a disastrous opening half-hour. The former Metz midfielder had returned at the end of September following Luc Holtz’s departure, but his reshaped defence struggled badly on its first outing under him.
Dijon struck first in the 19th minute when Hugo Vargas Rios unleashed a 30-metre effort into the top of the net. Five minutes later, Ange Lago doubled the home side’s advantage after Cristian Devenish’s poor control played him onside.
Metz had lined up with three central defenders, yet the back line looked uncertain throughout. Dijon exploited the space again in the 33rd minute, when Julio Tavares made it 3-0. The forward, who turns 38 next month, registered his fourth goal of the campaign.
Pape Fall gave the visitors a route back before the interval, heading in Jessy Deminguet’s cross in the 44th minute. But the goal did not bring a meaningful change after the break, even as Dijon continued to attack rather than protect their lead.
Adel Lembezat was denied by Metz goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer in a one-on-one situation in the 55th minute, but Fischer was involved in Dijon’s fourth goal soon afterwards. He failed to deal with Jordan Marié’s free-kick and Quentin Bernard, positioned at the far post, turned the loose ball home in the 69th minute.
Fall scored again in the 88th minute for his seventh goal of the season, reducing the final margin without altering the outcome.
The loss extends Metz’s difficult run. They had been beaten 1-0 by Red Star and drawn 2-2 with Saint-Étienne before the international break, and now sit 10th in the table.
Dijon, meanwhile, have won three successive matches. They are seventh on 12 points, two behind fourth-placed Reims.
The next appointment in France
Dijon travel to Stade Auguste-Delaune on Friday to face Reims, with the chance to cut the gap to the top four further.
