Marseille will seek to stretch their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches when they play host to Metz in Sunday's Ligue 1 clash.

Meanwhile, Les Grenats are still struggling to pull themselves out of their rut and sit second from bottom ahead of the trip to the Orange Velodrome.

Match preview

With Clermont boss Pascal Gastien opting to drop star striker Mohamed Bayo down to the bench after a serious off-the-field incident, the newly-promoted side struggled to conjure up anything in attack as Marseille marched to a 1-0 win last weekend.

Cengiz Under's 25th-minute strike was all that was needed to hand Marseille all three points before Jorge Sampaoli's side played out a fourth draw from as many Europa League games against Lazio in midweek, with Arkadiusz Milik and Dimitri Payet cancelling out Felipe Anderson and Ciro Immobile's strikes.

Having now shared the spoils in four of their last five games across all competitions, Marseille have held their position in the top three of the Ligue 1 table - one point behind second-placed Nice - but Lens are also within touching distance of the uninspiring Olympiens.

Lens are the only team to beat Marseille at home in Ligue 1 since November, though - with Les Olympiens winning nine and drawing four of their other last 14 battles at the Orange Velodrome - an they have already chalked up 13 league goals on familiar territory this term before a leaky Metz defence pays a visit.

Anything that Farid Boulaya can do, Wahbi Khazri can do better, as the former took just nine minutes to break the deadlock in Metz's basement battle with Saint-Etienne with a thunderbolt of a free kick from 30 yards out.

However, Les Verts would ensure that their relegation rivals would not be clambering their way to safety just yet, as no fewer than seven minutes after Boulaya's own wonder strike, Khazri spotted Alexandre Oukidja off his line from inside his own half and scored what will surely be crowned the goal of the season to rescue a point for his outfit.

It was an afternoon of spectacular strikes at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, but there was very little else for Metz to cheer after Khazri stunned the home crowd into silence, and Les Grenats remain 19th in the rankings with just seven points accrued from their opening 12 games.

No team in the division has shipped more than Metz's 27 league goals this term - with 15 of those strikes being conceded away from home, but Frederic Antonetti's men have proven a tough nut to crack for Marseille in recent games.

Indeed, all of the last three clashes between Marseille and Metz have ended 1-1, but Les Grenats have won just one of their last 12 with the hosts, who have picked up eight wins in that time.

Team News

Marseille once again have no injury or suspension concerns to work around for Sunday's game, but it would not be surprising to see Sampaoli - who will serve a touchline ban - rotate his resources given his extensive options.

Valentin Rongier was passed fit for the draw with Lazio despite concerns over an adductor issue, but after playing the full 90 minutes on Thursday, Gerson could now be in contention to replace him.

Pape Gueye is another candidate to come into the engine room for Sampaoli, who also has Konrad de la Fuente and Bamba Dieng knocking on the door for recalls up top.

As for Metz, Habib Maiga was subbed off after just 40 minutes of the clash with Saint-Etienne but has been given the green light to line up here, while Manuel Cabit and Sikou Niakate remain out.

Antonetti therefore also has a well-stocked team from which to select from here, with Dylan Bronn also fine to line up in defence after shaking off concerns of a toe injury.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Pape Sarr will hope to fill the void in midfield if Antonetti opts against risking Maiga, although the 19-year-old could very well displace Kevin N'Doram too.

Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Lirola, Saliba, Caleta-Car, Peres; Kamara; Under, Guendouzi, Gerson, Payet; Dieng

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Kouyate, Bronn, Jemerson; Centonze, Maiga, Sarr, Delaine; Boulaya; De Preville, Niane

We say: Marseille 2-0 Metz

The visit of Metz represents a prime opportunity for Sampaoli to show off his side's remarkable squad depth in the attacking areas and return to winning ways in convincing fashion.

European fatigue appears to have well and truly set in for the hosts, but Metz just cannot shut up shop this season and ought to be picked off by the hosts' bright frontline.

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