Separated by just two places near the bottom of the Ligue 1 standings, Metz will do battle with Toulouse at Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday afternoon for crucial points in the relegation dogfight.
The hosts are currently enduring their longest losing run in the French top flight this decade, while Toulouse will be hoping to build on a cup success last time out.
Match preview
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Following four-straight defeats in Ligue 1 to round off a pointless December period, Metz returned to competitive action for the first time in 2024 by welcoming basement dwellers Clermont Foot for a Coupe de France tie last Friday, and it was the visitors who managed to progress into the next round.
Featuring for the Maroons' first team for only the second time, midfielder Sadibou Sane opened the scoring in the cup clash, but Clermont's Jim Allevinah equalised shortly after the half-time break, and with the scores level after 90 minutes, Pascal Gastien's men went on to be victorious in the penalty shootout.
Laszlo Boloni's men only have league matters to focus on between now and the end of the campaign, with Metz having plenty to do in order to avoid an immediate return to Ligue 2, as Sunday's hosts sit precariously in 14th, just four points above 17th-placed Lorient at the halfway point of the term.
Only this weekend's opponents Toulouse and bottom side Clermont have netted fewer goals than the Maroons in Ligue 1 this season, but Boloni's side have been handed a massive boost in their attacking department by the return of Georges Mikautadze on loan from Ajax this month, with the Georgia international bagging 23 goals in the second tier for Boloni's team as they earned automatic promotion last term.
Metz's record at Stade Saint-Symphorien so far this campaign has proved a real hindrance as the newly-promoted side look to move away from worries at the bottom of the division, with Les Grenats winning just one of their eight Ligue 1 home matches in 2023-24, collecting only six points.
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Toulouse commenced their attempts to defend the Coupe de France trophy with a 3-0 away success at lower-league outfit Chambery last Sunday, with Finnish youngster Naatan Skytta bagging a brace before leading marksman Thijs Dallinga made sure of progression in the final 10 minutes.
A stress-free afternoon at Stade Municipal de Chambery is a stark contrast to what Carles Martinez's men have experienced for the majority of this season, with Les Violets currently embroiled in a relegation battle despite facing Portuguese giants Benfica in the knockout stages of the Europa League next month.
After winning just two matches in the first half of the Ligue 1 campaign, Toulouse are 16th in the top-flight standings, two points behind French heavyweights Lyon in the relative safety of 15th, with Martinez's side 10 games without maximum points in the league, dating back to October 1.
That victory came against fellow strugglers and Sunday's opponents Metz at Stadium de Toulouse, where Niklas Schmidt, flying Dutchman Dalinga and Frank Magri made the net ripple to give Les Violets their sole home win to date and one of only two wins in the league term to date.
Aiming to prevent an unlikely sentence of second-tier football next season, Toulouse have secured the services of 22-year-old winger Yann Gboho from Belgian Pro League side Cercle Brugge, with the Ivorian possessing French league experience after graduating from the highly-respected Rennes academy in 2018.
Team News
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Metz have a host of players away at this month's Africa Cup of Nations so will not be available for the visit of Toulouse, including Kevin Van den Kerkhof, Ablie Jallow, Lamine Camara and Fali Cande.
Former Hull City marksman Oscar Estupinan is continuing to struggle with a hamstring injury picked up in October, and the Colombian will not be fit for Sunday's clash.
Kevin N'Doram has been linked with a move away from the Maroons in 2024 but should take his place alongside Danley Jean Jacques in the engine room for this one.
Toulouse remain without the service of Moroccan winger Zakaria Aboukhlal, who could be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a serious knee injury.
Les Violets also have a number of notable first-team stars away on international duty, such as Logan Costa, Moussa Diarra and four-goal forward Magri.
Mikkel Desler missed the final matches of 2023 because of a calf strain and is expected to play no part in the trip to fellow strugglers Metz this weekend.
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Kouao, Traore, Herelle, Colin; Jacques, N'Doram, Mbaye, Atta, Sabaly; Mikautadze
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; Mawissa, Nicolaisen, Kamanzi, Suazo; Sierro, Spierings, Cassesers Jr; Donnum, Skytta, Dallinga
We say: Metz 2-1 Toulouse
Metz have struggled massively in recent matches, but the return of goalscorer Chakvetadze could give them the boost required to earn a rare three points.
Toulouse are without a number of their key players due to injuries and AFCON, meaning we cannot imagine Les Violets getting a result on their travels in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
