Monaco will hope to keep pace with the title-chasing pack in Ligue 1 when they welcome Metz to the Stade Louis II on Saturday lunchtime.

Niko Kovac's side thrashed Saint-Etienne 4-0 in their final game before the international break, while Metz were no match for Rennes as they lost 3-0 on March 20.

Match preview

Not a week goes by where there is not some sort of twist or shock in the Ligue 1 title race - be it Monaco's defeat to Strasbourg or Paris Saint-Germain's loss to Nantes - and last time out, it was Lille's turn to lose ground as they fell to a shock home defeat to Nimes by two goals to one.

With Lyon also falling to defeat to PSG, Monaco took full advantage by teaching Saint-Etienne a footballing lesson on their own turf in a 4-0 triumph, as Krepin Diatta, Aurelien Tchouameni, Sofiane Diop and surprise starter Stevan Jovetic all made the net ripple at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

That drubbing was the perfect response from Kovac's side after taking just one point from a possible six against Lille and Strasbourg, but Les Monegasques were unable to rise any higher up the table and still occupy fourth spot in the rankings, although they are just one point behind Lyon and four adrift of top spot after 30 matches.

However, with 32 points taken from a possible 45 on familiar territory so far, Monaco boast the best home record in the entire division - level on points with Lille but ahead on goals scored - and another victory at the Stade Louis-II would see Les Monegasques rise to third before Lyon take on Lens several hours later.

Kovac's side have strung together a seven-game unbeaten run on home turf since losing to Lens back in December, and with their tally of 60 goals scored only being bettered by reigning champions PSG, European outsiders Metz have chosen the worst time to suffer a drop in form as they gear up for a return to Ligue 1 action.

Metz's inconsistency continues to hinder their aspirations of an unexpected venture in Europe, and Les Grenats became the latest victims of Bruno Genesio's resurgent Rennes as Les Rouge et Noir stormed to a 3-1 triumph at the Stade Saint-Symphorien just before the international break.

Jeremy Doku - who then saw red in the second half - Martin Terrier and Serhou Guirassy ensured that Metz's woeful form on home soil would continue as they slumped to a third straight defeat at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, and Papa Ndiaga Yade's late consolation did little to lighten the spirits of Frederic Antonetti's side on an afternoon where they were simply outplayed.

With Montpellier managing to take advantage of Metz's most recent defeat, Antonetti's side have slipped to ninth in the rankings and are now six points adrift of the top five, but with only one point taken from their last three outings, they will likely be consigned to a mid-table finish if this current plight continues.

Les Grenats have only managed to prevail in two of their last eight league outings, although both of those wins came on the road, and they have lost just two of their last 13 matches on unfamiliar territory, but a battle with the league's best home side will certainly put that record to the test in gameweek 31.

A Benoit Badiashile goal saw Monaco prevail 1-0 on Metz's turf during the opening weekend of the season, but Les Grenats had prevailed in their previous two meetings with Monaco before that defeat in August, including an impressive 3-0 triumph at home last season.

Team News

Veteran midfielder Cesc Fabregas has had to wait patiently for a start in Kovac's team since the turn of the year, but he may finally be granted it this weekend as Tchouameni is suspended for an accumulation of bookings.

Goalscoring defender Guillermo Maripan - who has struck five times in the league this season - missed out against Saint-Etienne due to stomach problems but should be fine for this game, although Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile will not want to be broken up after their recent clean sheet.

Jovetic's name in the first XI raised a few eyebrows, and he missed a penalty before drawing first blood only a minute later in their 4-0 win over Les Verts, but 13-goal Wissam Ben Yedder will hope to link up with his regular strike partner Kevin Volland this weekend.

Metz goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja will serve the fourth and final game of his ban this weekend, so Marc-Aurele Caillard will have one last opportunity to prove his worth in between the sticks.

Vincent Pajot lasted the full 90 minutes against Rennes but has since exacerbated an Achilles problem, with Victorien Angban therefore likely to earn a recall in the engine room.

Ibrahima Niane - still their top scorer this season with six goals - is progressing well after an ACL rupture and should return to training later this month, but Opa Nguette and Warren Tchimbembe remain out.

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sidibe, Maripan, Badiashile, Henrique; Golovin, Fofana, Fabregas, Diop; Ben Yedder, Volland

Metz possible starting lineup:
Caillard; Bronn, Boye, Kouyate; Centonze, Maiga, Angban, Delaine; Boulaya; Yade, Leya Iseka

We say: Monaco 3-1 Metz

Monaco's stellar home form coupled with Metz's away day specialities should, on paper, lead to a fascinating battle, but we can only see one winner here. The hosts have not given up on their title aspirations and can frighten any team with their attacking prowess, so we are backing a comprehensive victory for Kovac's side on their own turf.

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