In a match which looks set to have massive ramifications on the scrap for survival, a resurgent Nantes side will welcome strugglers Metz to Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday afternoon in Ligue 1.
Les Canaris continued their revival with a narrow success over fellow basement dwellers Lorient last time out, whilst Les Grenats were unable to turn their terrible fortunes around against Lyon.
Match preview
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After maintaining their Ligue 1 status by just a single point at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, Nantes have made great strides in recent weeks to ensure that the current term does not include a similarly-tense conclusion, with Les Canaris securing wins over both Toulouse and Lorient since the start of February.
Facing off against Les Merlus in the fiercely-contested Breton derby last weekend, Jocelyn Gourvennec's side were at their clinical best despite having less of the possession at a hostile Stade du Moustoir, where right-back Jean-Charles Castelletto hit a sweet volley to clinch maximum points for the visitors.
The collection of six points from their last three Ligue 1 encounters has allowed Nantes to move up to 12th in the top-flight standings with a steady tally of 25 points from 23 matches, sitting three points ahead of local rivals Lorient, who currently occupy the relegation-playoff spot.
Following a six-game winless run between December and the start of February, the full integration of fresh faces who arrived in the January window has certainly helped Les Canaris turn their fortunes around, with Lyon loanee Tino Kadewere developing an attacking connection with leading marksman Mostafa Mohamed.
Nantes have actually fared better away from Stade de la Beaujoire this season, collecting just 12 of their 25 Ligue 1 points in front of their home faithful, with their most-recent home success arriving on December 2, when a first-half Florent Mollet strike was enough to defeat Nice.
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Extending their winless run in Ligue 1 to a woeful ten matches last Friday night against an in-form Lyon outfit, Metz are in the midst of a rut which seriously threatens to end their one-year stay at the top table of French football, with the club's fanbase showing their considerable discontent last time out.
Les Grenats were on course for their maiden victory of the calendar year when Ajax loanee Georges Mikautadze put the hosts ahead after 13 minutes, but goals either side of the half-time whistle from Alexandre Lacazette and Said Benrahma handed Pierre Sage's men the victory.
Following the full-time whistle, sections of the Metz fanbase invaded the field of play and protested against manager Laszlo Boloni, who is reportedly being kept in the dugout by the virtue that the club cannot afford to pay for his exit, with the Romanian only signing a fresh two-year contract earlier in the season.
After earning just a single point from their last 10 top-flight matches, Metz are lying in 17th position in the Ligue 1 standings ahead of Sunday's crunch clash at Nantes, level on points with bottom side Clermont Foot and five points behind Montpellier HSC, who sit in 15th.
Boloni's side will face off against Clermont on March 10 in a vitally-important encounter at the bottom of the division, meaning that the failure to collect at least one win from the next two matches could significantly push Les Grenats closer to an immediate return to Ligue 2.
Team News
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Nantes could be without the services of leading goalscorer Mohamed on Sunday afternoon, with the Egyptian being forced off during the half-time interval at Lorient last weekend.
Zimbabwean Kadewere is an obvious candidate to replace the seven-goal striker at the focal point of the attack, although Sheffield United loanee Benie Traore is also capable of operating in that position.
Les Canaris will definitely be unable to call upon Ignatius Ganago, though, with the striker sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a cruciate ligament injury.
After another defeat in their last match, Metz could make some alterations to their starting XI, with the likes of Arthur Atta and Ibou Sane pushing for starts.
Les Grenats have missed the attacking guile of Ablie Jallow in recent matches due to a hamstring injury, with the 25-year-old expected back later this month.
Former Monaco youngster Kevin N'Doram was a key force in Metz's engine room before sustaining a thigh injury, which is set to keep him out for another couple of weeks.
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Castelletto, Comert, Pallois, Zeze, Cozza; Simon, Augusto, Chirivella, Sissoko; Kadewere
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Colin, Herelle, Sane, Udol; Asoro, Camara, Jacques, Atta; Mikautadze, Sane
We say: Nantes 2-1 Metz
Nantes have managed much-needed wins over Toulouse and Lorient in recent weeks, and Les Canaris should be confident of repeating the trick on Sunday afternoon.
Against a backdrop of fan protests and financial issues, we do not believe that Metz will be able to earn a positive result at Stade de la Beaujoire this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
