Gameweek 12 in Ligue 1 will see Metz look to snap up a three-match winless streak when they take on Nantes at Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday afternoon.
With the mid-table in the league being very tightly packed, the visitors are eight places above the hosts in the standings, but they are separated by just four points heading into this match.
Match preview
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After securing promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking, Metz have failed to find top gear as yet this season and are currently occupying the relegation playoff spot above Clermont Foot and Lyon.
The Maroons have recorded 10 points in 11 matches this season, but with less than nine points separating the top four from the bottom four, a couple of wins for the hosts will likely see them break into the top half of the table.
However, that seems easier said than done for this Metz side, who come into this encounter following a 1-1 draw to bottom club Lyon and are winless in their last six league games.
During that time, Laszlo Boloni's side lost four in succession before back-to-back draws in their last two and are still in search of their first home win this season, having drawn three and lost two of their five on home soil.
Metz have also failed to score a single goal in their last three matches at Stade Saint-Symphorien and currently possess the league's third-worst attacking record of nine goals in 11 games.
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Meanwhile, Nantes look determined not to be involved in anything like the final-day survival drama they experienced last season, and thanks to a solid month of August, they have got themselves into the top half of the table with a third of the season in the rearview mirror.
The Canaries have taken 14 points from a possible 33 so far this season, and while that may not look too impressive at first glance, it is worth noting that they have fared better than the likes of Marseille and Lens so far this term.
However, the visitors will head into this match following back-to-back defeats, with the most recent coming at home to Reims last weekend, and if they were to lose again here, it would see them head into the international break having only managed three points since the last break at the start of October.
The international break will likely be a welcomed stoppage for Pierre Aristouy, though, as it will allow him to address his side's major issue, which has been their defensive frailties in the first part of the season.
Nantes have already shipped 20 goals this term, which is the joint-most of any side in the top flight, and the boss will know that he cannot depend solely on outscoring opponents week on week, especially when considering that his side failed to find the net in their last two matches.
Team News
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Oscar Estupinan is set to miss his third league match this week after picking up a hamstring injury against Monaco last month, which should see Simon Elisor continue at the top of the pitch.
Aboubacar Lo (knock) and Habib Maiga (calf) have not featured at all this season due to injury and are likely to remain sidelined until after the international break.
Nantes will be without Jean-Kevin Duverne, who is ruled out until the end of the month with a sprained ankle, which should mean Jean-Charles Castelletto will continue in the three-man backline alongside Eray Comert and Nicolas Pallois.
Douglas Augusto is on his way back to full fitness, but this match may have come a couple of weeks too soon, while Fabien Centonze is only expected to return to first-team action early next month.
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Colin, Traore, Herelle, Udol; Camara, Jacques; Jallow, Asoro, Van Den; Elisor
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Comert, Castelletto, Pallois; Coco, Moutoussamy, Chirivella, Adson, Merlin; Mohamed, Simon
We say: Metz 2-2 Nantes
Both sets of players will be hoping for a positive result before the two-week international break and are likely to go all out for the victory in this one. With two of the worst defences in the league on display in this match, a fair bit of goalmouth action at both ends can be expected here, but we feel that these sides will cancel each other out by the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
