METZ, France (Interstat) — In a frenetic and high-scoring Ligue 1 opener, Toulouse outlasted FC Metz 4-3 on Sunday at Stade Saint-Symphorien, a result that defied the late-game drama and a furious Metz comeback attempt.

The match, played before a crowd of 22,000 in Longeville-lès-Metz, set an early standard for entertainment in the French top flight, featuring four goals in a chaotic first half and a decisive late strike to seal the outcome.

Toulouse, the visiting side, struck first with stunning speed. Norwegian winger Aron Dønnum, entering the match as a substitute, needed only six minutes to make his impact, firing his team into an early lead. That advantage was doubled just eight minutes later when fellow substitute Yann Gboho found the net for the first of his two goals on the afternoon.

FC Metz, reeling from the early onslaught, found a lifeline at the half-hour mark. Forward Nathan Mbala pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 30th minute, injecting belief into the stadium. That belief turned to delirium a mere 60 seconds later when defender Koffi Franck Kouao equalized with a dramatic goal, completing a stunning two-goal swing that leveled the score at 2-2.

The parity was short-lived. On the stroke of halftime, in the third minute of added time, Gboho struck again for Toulouse. Assisted by substitute Alexis Vossah, Gboho’s second goal restored the visitors’ lead and sent them into the break with a 3-2 advantage.

The second half saw tensions rise as both teams battled for control. Vossah received a yellow card in the 34th minute for a tactical foul, and the match settled into a tense stalemate for long periods. Toulouse managed the game effectively, protecting its one-goal cushion as the clock wound down.

The crucial insurance goal arrived in the 88th minute. Midfielder Giorgi Abuashvili, set up by substitute Waren Kamanzi, delivered a clinical finish to extend Toulouse’s lead to 4-2, seemingly putting the result beyond doubt.

FC Metz, however, refused to capitulate. Deep into second-half stoppage time, they mounted one final charge. A goal in the 97th minute by an unlisted Metz player — the details of which were not immediately available in the official statistical report — set up a frantic finale, cutting the deficit to 4-3. The drama escalated moments later when Toulouse’s Kamanzi was shown a yellow card in the 95th minute as the visitors sought to see out the match.

The final whistle blew shortly after, confirming a narrow victory for Toulouse. The result handed new Toulouse manager Philippe Montanier a winning start in the league and gave his team an immediate three points. For FC Metz and manager László Bölöni, the defeat marked a disappointing beginning to the campaign despite the spirited fightback.

Statistically, the match exceeded pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 2-1 victory for Toulouse, while its ELO rating system gave the visitors a 77.2% probability of winning. The actual 4-3 scoreline underscored an unexpectedly open and offensive contest.

With the victory, Toulouse begins its Ligue 1 season with one win and no losses, while FC Metz starts with one loss and no wins. Both clubs carry identical records into all competitions for the new season. The seven total goals and dramatic momentum shifts provided a compelling opening chapter to the 2025-2026 French football season.