Nice will be looking to climb to the top of the Ligue 1 table when they travel to the Stade Saint-Symphorien to face Metz on Saturday afternoon.
While the hosts are seeking to avoid a third successive defeat, the visitors are one of just two top-flight teams, along with Rennes, who are yet to lose this season.
Match preview
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Since accumulating eight points from a four-game unbeaten run between the middle of August and middle of September, Metz have suffered back-to-back Ligue 1 defeats without reply against Strasbourg and Toulouse, losing 3-0 to the latter last weekend.
Laszlo Boloni's side had scored in each of their previous 19 top-flight matches before drawing a blank in their last two games, and their recent blip in form has seen then slip to 14th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.
Metz won 10 and drew seven of their 19 home matches en route to securing promotion from Ligue 2 last season, but they are yet to satisfy their home supporters in the top flight this term as they have failed to win any of their opening three games at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Les Grenats have only won a third of their top-flight home meetings with Nice in the 21st century (three out of nine), but they have claimed maximum points in three of their previous six encounters overall against Les Aiglons in all competitions, which will provide Boloni's side with an element of optimism heading into Saturday's fixture.
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After ending the month of September in style with three consecutive wins, including notable away triumphs over Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, Nice were forced to settle for a goalless draw at home against fellow high-fliers Brest last weekend.
Nice lacked a cutting edge in the final third and fired just one of their 12 shots on target throughout the 90 minutes. Nevertheless, Les Aiglons have extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to 10 matches, with only Rennes (11) boasting a longer undefeated streak in the division.
Last season, Nice failed to reach the heights expected and slumped to a ninth-placed finish, but they have certainly shown signs of improvement this term and seem to have a squad capable of challenging for the European spots under 34-year-old head coach Francesco Farioli; the Riviera-based outfit currently sit fourth in the table and just one point behind league leaders Monaco.
Boasting the best defensive record in Ligue 1 after seven games – conceding just four goals and keeping the most clean sheets (four) – Nice will fancy their chances of extending their unbeaten run on Saturday as they have only lost two of their last 15 away matches in all competitions since the turn of the year, as well as just one of their last seven visits to the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Team News
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Metz midfielder Habib Maiga has been ruled out for at least two weeks with a calf injury and will join Maxime Colin (calf), Benjamin Tetteh (thigh) and Joseph Nduquidi (muscle) in the treatment room, while Kevin N'Doram has revealed that he was forced to withdraw from the loss at Toulouse after suffering with Hypoglycaemia, but he is fit to play on Saturday.
Teenage midfielder Lamine Camara and Hull City loanee Oscar Estupinan were both dropped to the substitutes' bench last time out, but they could return to the first XI this weekend at the expense of Arthur Atta and Simon Elisor, while the rest of Boloni's side could remain unchanged.
As for Nice, Sofiane Diop missed the draw with Brest after picking up a thigh injury and the attacker is not expected to be involved on Saturday, while Antoine Mendy remains out with a knee problem.
Jeremie Boga is set to start again on the left flank in Diop's absence, joining Terem Moffi and Gaetan Laborde, who have scored five goals between then so far this season, in the front three.
Youcef Atal returned to the starting lineup last time out and could keep his place at right-back ahead of Jordan Lotomba, while Manchester United-linked Jean-Clair Todibo should continue to links arms with 39-year-old Dante in central defence.
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Kouao, Herelle, Cande, Udol; N'Doram, Jacques; Asoro, Camara, Sabaly; Estupinan
Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Atal, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Sanson, Ndayishimiye, Thuram; Laborde, Moffi, Boga
We say: Metz 0-2 Nice
Nice, who beat Metz 2-0 in their last visit to the Stade Saint-Symphorien in January 2022, will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top this weekend considering the contrasting form of the two teams.
The hosts may struggle to breach the best defence in Ligue 1, and although the visitors drew a blank in front of goal last time out, they should have few problems finding the net en route to a routine victory on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
