Ligue 1's bottom two teams in the table will meet on Sunday when Metz host Clermont.
Metz ended a winless streak of 10 league games when they defeated Nantes last time out, while rock-bottom Clermont have failed to win any of their last six matches.
Match preview
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Surviving relegation was always likely to be difficult for Metz following their promotion as Ligue 2 runners-up last season, but their victory against Nantes could breathe new life into them for their final 10 matches of the campaign.
Georges Mikautadze and Mathieu Odol scored within two minutes of each other at Stade de la Beaujoire to help Metz claim all three points against Nantes for the second time this season, with Laszlo Boloni's side's win against Lorient in their following game in late November being their previous Ligue 1 win.
As such, the Maroons will head into the weekend's action four points from safety, although Montpellier - who will travel to Nice on Friday evening occupying the relegation playoff spot - saw their lead ahead of the bottom two teams cut to only three points despite drawing against Strasbourg.
Baloni, who led Nancy to promotion from Ligue 2 in his first ever managerial job during the 1990s before repeating that feat with Metz in his first season at the club, clearly has a massive job on his hands to keep them in France's top flight. However, recording another win against the only team beneath them in the division would make their mission much more achievable.
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Clerment, of course, were promoted to Ligue 1 for the first time in the club's history in the 2020-21 campaign. They survived by only four points in their debut season, but hugely improved to record a remarkable tally of 59 points last time out, ending up in eighth position in the end.
However, the Lancers' third season has been far more testing, with Pascel Gastien seemingly unable to find solutions to their problems. The 60-year-old has been in charge of the club since September 2017, meaning he is a legend in the local community of Clermont-Ferrand after making history less than four years later.
Clermont were thrashed 5-1 at home by Marseille last weekend, with Bilal Boutobba's equaliser seven minutes prior to the hour mark proving to be a false dawn. Former Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang quickly restored the visitors' advantage, after Iliman Ndiaye had opened the scoring half-way through the opening period.
That defeat leaves Clermont six points behind Montpellier and seven adrift of Le Havre in safety prior to a ball being kicked ahead of the weekend, which could prove insurmountable tallies with only 10 games remaining. They may require all three points against their relegation rivals in Metz on Sunday to keep the dream alive.
Team News
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Metz are expected to remain without Ismael Traore, Benjamin Tetteh, Kevin N'Doram and Albie Jallow due to injuries.
In truth, it would be incredibly surprising if Boloni opted to make any changes to his starting XI after finally returning to winning ways against Nantes last weekend. That should mean Mikautadze leading the line once more.
Clermont, meanwhile, will travel without Grejohn Kyei due to a foot injury. Maxime Gonalons has been unavailable recently since suffering a head injury against Nice, and may not be risked once more, while Maximiliano Caufriez must serve one more match of his suspension after being sent off against Rennes.
Gastien is much more likely to make changes after seeing his side thrashed by Marseille last time out, with the likes of Yohann Magnin, Komnen Andric and Jim Allevinah all vying for a starting berth after appearing from the bench during that defeat.
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Colin, Herelle, Cande, Udol; Atta, Camara, Jacques; Van Den Kerkhof, Mikautadze, Ze
Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Pelmard, Matsima, Ogier, Borges; Keita, Magnin; Allevinah, Cham, Virginius; Nicholson
We say: Metz 1-1 Clermont
Metz will have taken plenty of confidence from returning to winning ways last weekend, and they will be viewing this match as the perfect opportunity to cut the gap to the teams ahead of them.
However, Clermont should not be underestimated given their high performance levels last season, especially as this game could be their last chance saloon in terms of saving themselves from relegation. We can envisage a nervy draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
