Eight places separate Reims and Metz in the Ligue 1 table heading into Sunday's gameweek 26 fixture at Stade Auguste Delaune.

The home side are outsiders for European qualification, while the second-bottom club could escape the automatic relegation places with a win.

Match preview

Will Still's Reims side remain contenders to claim a European spot via a high league finish, but the Red and Whites must regain the form that initially put them in that position.

One win in their last seven have underlined the recent challenges to secure results, and a four-game winless run in front of their supporters is their worst home run under Still.

History does not favour the Marne outfit, who have won only two games in the last 20 against Metz in all competitions in the 21st century, with the last one coming in March 2012 — a 3-0 triumph in Ligue 2.

It does not look any better if only Ligue 1 matches are considered, with Reims failing to win this weekend's opponent in 15 fixtures since a 3-2 success in June 1976, leaving the hosts one more winless match against Metz from matching their longest run without beating a club in the top flight since a 16-match sequence against St Etienne from November 1976 to April 2019.

It remains to be seen if Still inspires an improvement in performance against Metz, but the home support hope for a turnaround to prevent the Red and Whites from falling away in the chase for continental football — they are currently five points behind off-form Nice and seven adrift of Lens in fifth.

Metz may be second-bottom, but Laszlo Boloni hopes his troops continue the club's impressive record against Reims by at least avoiding defeat on Sunday.

Recent wins over Nantes and Clermont give the visitors confidence, even if both triumphs have come against teams in the bottom three, having previously claimed one point from 30 before the back-to-back triumphs.

Fourteen of the 23 points secured in this year's Ligue 1 have come on their travels, accounting for 61% of their tally after 25 gameweeks, outdoing other teams despite their lowly position.

The recent win at Nantes was Metz's fourth from 14 games, but it came after a five-match drought on their travels that witnessed four losses from December to March.

These long stretches without wins have put Boloni's men are in danger of immediate relegation from Ligue 1, but they hope recent victories against the sides around them inspire another positive result at a side they historically fare well against.

Team News

While Reims' Teddy Teuma could start despite being reportedly doubtful for Sunday, Maxime Busi (thigh) and Joseph Okumu (groin) are expected to miss out.

Oumar Diakite was among the goals in the 2-2 draw in September's reverse fixture, and the forward hopes to make a similar impact this weekend.

Metz's Georges Mikautadze has netted five of their 22 Ligue 1 goals, and the striker should lead the attack for Boloni's team.

The away side have a worse injury list heading into gameweek 26, with Ablie Jallow, Kevin N'Doram, Benjamin Tetteh, Ismael Traore and Pape Diallo all ruled out.

Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Foket, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, De Smet; Munetsi, Stambouli, Teuma; Ito, Diakite, Daramy

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Colin, Herelle, Cande, Udol; Atta, Haxques, Camara; Kerkhof, Mikautadze, Ze

We say: Reims 1-1 Metz

Even though Sunday's game is anticipated to be tight, Metz should back themselves for another positive result at Reims, with both sides possibly playing out a score draw.


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