Newly-promoted Metz will look to extend their unbeaten run to five Ligue 1 matches when they welcome Strasbourg to Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to return to winning ways after picking up a point from their previous two matches.

Match preview

After winning promotion to return to Ligue 1 at the first time of asking, Metz have had no trouble in readjusting to life back in the top flight, having picked up eight points from their opening five games.

They may have been bracing themselves for an arduous campaign when they were hammered 5-1 by Rennes in their league opener, but that result has proven to be their only defeat of the season so far.

Since being given a rude awakening on matchday one, Metz have embarked on a four-game unbeaten run, which has seen them play out 2-2 draws in their home games against Marseille and Reims, while they have won both of their away meetings with Clermont and Lens by a 1-0 scoreline.

Joel Asoro proved to be Metz's hero in their most recent outing against Lens, finding the net in the 37th minute to score his first goal for the club and move Les Grenats into seventh place.

Having drawn their opening two home matches, Laszlo Boloni's side will now look to record their first home win of the season, but achieving that feat will be a challenge when they face a team that they have failed to beat in their last four competitive meetings.

Former Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has experienced a mixed start to his tenure as Strasbourg's head coach, with his opening five matches yielding seven points.

Six of those points were collected in the first three games after Strasbourg claimed home wins against Lyon and Toulouse either side of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Monaco.

After losing 2-0 to Nice on matchday four, Strasbourg looked to be heading towards another defeat against Montpellier, but they showed great determination to come from two goals down to salvage a point courtesy of a Benjamin Lecomte own goal and a Lebo Mothiba strike.

The 10th-placed side will now turn their attention to Saturday's away trip, where they will be looking to end a four-game winless away league run (D1, L3).

However, they were successful on their last two trips to Stade Saint-Symphorien, winning 2-1 in February 2021 and 2-0 in January 2022.

Team News

Ismael Traore, Maxime Colin, Malick Mbaye and Benjamin Tetteh are all set to miss out for the hosts due to injury.

After making their first starts for the club last weekend, defender Christophe Herelle and midfielder Joseph N'Duquidi are set to retain their places in the side, with Boloni likely to name an unchanged lineup.

Former Hull City striker Oscar Estupinan will continue to lead the line after making his debut in the win over Lens.

As for the visitors, Maxime Bastian is ruled out with a muscular injury, while Karol Fila remains a long-term absentee.

After coming off the bench to score the crucial equalising goal against Montpellier, Mothiba could be rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.

Angelo made his first start for Vieira's side last week, and the Chelsea loanee is expected to retain his place for Sunday's away trip.

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Kouao, Herelle, Cande, Udol; Camara, N'Doram, Nduquidi; Asoro, Sabaly, Estupinan

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Sels; Guilbert, Perrin, Nyamsi, Delaine; Doukoure, Sissoko; Angelo, Dion, Diarra; Mothiba

We say: Metz 1-1 Strasbourg

Strasbourg may have won their last three competitive head-to-head meetings, but Metz have proven to be a tough team to beat this season, and we think that the hosts will extend their unbeaten run by playing out a draw.

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