Despite conceding a league-high 34 goals ahead of the round, Metz had only let seven of those in at home, and their defensive rigidity was on show again this evening, as PSG failed to have a shot until the 18th minute.
However, that maiden effort forced goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer into a smart stop, denying Goncalo Ramos’ flicked header at his near post.
The home side kept the champions at bay until just beyond the half-hour mark, with their resistance being broken following a short corner when Lee Kang-In swung in a cross, and this time Ramos’ header got the better of Fischer.
Having broken through, it took Luis Enrique’s side just eight minutes to double their advantage, as Ibrahim Mbaye skipped away from his marker on the left and delivered a low cross for Quentin Ndjantou to turn in his first PSG goal.
Nonetheless, Les Grenats only needed one chance to get back in the game, as on their next attack, a blocked Habib Diallo shot was diverted to Jessy Deminguet at the edge of the area, and his clean first-time hit flew into the roof of the Paris net.
PSG had scored in both halves in over half of their league matches this season, and when Ndjantou and Ramos both saw chances to score a brace well-saved by Fischer soon after the break, the signs were there that they would do the same tonight.
But Metz still harboured hopes of an upset, and they gave the visitors cause for concern either side of the hour mark, as Diallo sent a cushioned volley narrowly wide, before Koffi Kouao unleashed a swerving effort from 35 yards that Matvei Safonov had to palm away.
But from the resulting corner, PSG launched a rapid counter-attack, and Desire Doue had the freedom of Stade Saint-Symphorien to sprint through on goal and guide the ball past Fischer for 3-1.
Mbaye looked to put the match out of reach in the final 20 minutes, but his fierce effort cannoned off the crossbar before a full-stretch Fischer denied Doue’s follow-up.
Les Parisiens’ lack of a knockout punch came back to bite 10 minutes later when Giorgi Tsitaishvili played a sumptuous one-two with Gauthier Hein and curled the ball past Safonov, but Stephane Le Mignan’s side were unable to carve out a late equalising chance.
They have now set a new all-time Ligue 1 record of 15 successive head-to-head defeats, while for PSG, it’s a first win in three against newly-promoted teams.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG)