SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 8 hrs 49 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
ML
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 26
Feb 27, 2022 at 2pm UK
Stade Saint-Symphorien
N

Metz
0 - 0
Nantes


Amadou (59')
Pajot (86')
FT

Cyprien (40'), Traore (51')

Preview: Metz vs. Nantes - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Metz vs. Nantes - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Metz and Nantes, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Nantes will be looking to continue their fine recent form when they travel to face Metz in their Ligue 1 clash on Sunday.

The visitors picked up a remarkable win over Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, whilst the hosts continued their fight for survival by picking up an impressive point at Lille.


Match preview

Although Ligue 1 champions Lille have been a much different package for the majority of the current campaign, a goalless draw by Metz at the Stade Pierre Mauroy was still regarded as an excellent result for the visitors.

Frederic Antonetti's side were perhaps fortunate that Lille missed a number of glorious opportunities on the day, but a solid defensive showing was a certain positive note regardless.

However, the point was not enough to lift Les Grenats out of the bottom two, although defeats for both Lorient and Troyes meant it was enough to pull them level with the duo directly above them in the table as we head into matchday 26.

A return home to the Stade Saint Symphorien should usually raise hopes of picking up a positive result for a side fighting for survival at the wrong end of the table, but with Metz having picked up only seven of their 21 points this season in front of their own supporters, they must find a solution if they are to retain hopes of getting out of trouble between now and May.

With just one win in their last eight games across all competitions either side of the New Year as well, Antonetti and his side must also put together an all-round strong run of form soon if they are to avoid the drop to Ligue 2.

Meanwhile, Nantes head into their trip to Metz on the back of three consecutive victories, and five wins from six across all competitions.

The most impressive of those triumphs was certainly the success over league leaders PSG last week, in what turned out to be a thrilling encounter that contained endless amounts of drama and goalmouth action at either end.

Randal Kolo Muani and Quentin Merlin provided Antoine Kombouare's side with a shock 2-0 lead inside the opening 16 minutes to stun their opponents, before Ludovic Blas netted from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time to leave the hosts heading into half time in dreamland.

Neymar's goal shortly after the break looked to spark hopes of a comeback from their star-studded opponents, but after the Brazilian missed a penalty shortly before the hour mark, Nantes hung on to seal a memorable victory thanks to Alban Lafont's heroics in goal during some late pressure.

The strong recent form has lifted La Maison Jaune into seventh spot ahead of Sunday's trip to Metz, and to within just two points of the European places.

A trip to a relegation-threatened side will provide the visitors with plenty of hope in their quest for a shock continental qualification come May, with victory potentially lifting Kombouare's men as high as fifth place, although defeat could also see Nantes fall as low as 10th, in what has turned out to be a hugely tight top half of the table in Ligue 1 this season.

Metz Ligue 1 form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D

Nantes Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W

Nantes form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W

Team News

Metz will check on the fitness of a quartet of players that could potentially return on Sunday, with Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, Sofiane Alakouch, Nicolas de Preville and Fabien Centonze all nearing returns from injury.

Kevin N'Doram and Matthieu Udol are definitely ruled out for the hosts though, with a broken foot and a serious knee injury keeping them on the sidelines respectively.

Antonetti could well name an unchanged lineup for the visit of Nantes, with no fresh injury concerns to contend with, and last week's positive performance providing a platform to build upon.

As for the visitors, they too have no fresh injury concerns as they prepare for the trip to Metz, so Kombouare is also likely to see no need in changing a successful starting 11 from the one that provided the heroics against PSG.

Former Manchester United defender Fabio Da Silva is the only confirmed absentee, with the Brazilian sidelined for around one more week due to a sprained ankle.

Samuel Moutoussamy is the only other concern, but the midfielder could make a return to the bench after missing the last three fixtures due to a hamstring problem.

Metz possible starting lineup:
Caillard; Delaine, Bronn, Kouyate, Amadou, Cande; Maiga, Traore, Pajot, Boulaya; Mafouta

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Bukari, Castelletto, Appiah, Pallois, Merlin; Blas, Girotto, Chirivella; Muani, Simon


We say: Metz 0-1 Nantes

With these sides heading into their meeting on very different runs of form, we are predicting Nantes to come out on top here thanks to their high spirits following their successes in recent weeks.

The hosts struggle to find the back of the net on so many occasions, and with Nantes boasting one of the meanest defences in Ligue 1, we are predicting a low-scoring encounter on Sunday.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__479171 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2022-02-26 04:24:45:
html db last update - 2022-02-25 16:06:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Watch: Neymar misses terrible penalty against Nantes
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG26178162233959
2Brest26138536201647
3MonacoMonaco26137647361146
4Lille261110537231443
5Nice2612772720743
6Lens2612683527842
7Marseille26109740281239
8Rennes2610974031939
9Reims26115103435-138
10Lyon26104123040-1034
11Toulouse2678112936-729
12StrasbourgStrasbourg2678112839-1129
13Le HavreLe Havre2669112633-727
14Montpellier HSCMontpellier2669113140-926
15Lorient2668123549-1426
16NantesNantes2674152441-1725
17Metz2665152339-1623
18Clermont2648141943-2420
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

1

MC

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

2

MC

Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Rayo Vallecano - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PC

Preview: Borussia M'bach vs. Freiburg - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PB

Preview: Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PW

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

6

A'

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Preview: Chelsea vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PC

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

9

HC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

10

KM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .