Metz can take a big step towards avoiding being automatically relegated from Ligue 1 with a victory on Sunday at Stade de la Meinau against Strasbourg.
A 3-1 defeat versus Le Havre has the Alsatian club sitting 13th in the table, while Les Grenats remain in the relegation playoff spot following a 3-2 defeat to Rennes.
Match preview
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For the third time in this domestic campaign, Strasbourg have suffered three successive defeats, hampering their chances of finishing in the top half of the table for the first time since 2021-22 (sixth).
Another defeat this weekend would match their longest losing run in Ligue 1 this season and put their chances of a top-10 finish out of reach, as they currently sit four points behind Montpellier with two matches remaining.
While it has been an up-and-down campaign for Patrick Vieira in his first season as manager, should his side win their final two league contests, they would surpass their points total from 2022-23 when there were 38 matchdays (40).
After suffering four successive defeats at home in the top flight, Le Racing have won two of their last three domestic encounters played at Stade de la Meinau.
Their home form, however, has played a big part in their descent down the Ligue 1 table, collecting a mere six points at Stade de la Meinau in 2024, with only Lorient (four) and Nantes (zero) collecting fewer points at home in the French top flight this year.
Strasbourg are unbeaten in their last six competitive fixtures against Metz at Stade de la Meinau, claiming a 3-0 victory the last time they hosted them in September 2021.
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As has been the case throughout much of the 2023-24 domestic campaign, Metz had points in their grasp but let them slip away last week, losing for a second successive time in this competition.
It was the 13th time in the top flight this season that Laszlo Boloni's men had lost by a single goal, hurting their chances of a guaranteed place in Ligue 1 next season, currently three points behind Le Havre with two matches remaining.
Their first season back in the top flight has been a series of missed opportunities, with Metz dropping 19 points in this competition when scoring the opening goal.
A victory for them on Sunday combined with a defeat or draw by Lorient would assure them of a relegation playoff berth, at worst, while maximum points this weekend would mark the first time they win successive away fixtures in the top flight since February 2021.
To this stage of the domestic campaign, Les Graoullys have suffered 19 defeats in this competition, and another one on Sunday would mark the first time they will have lost 20 Ligue 1 matches in a single season since 2017-18 (24).
They have a chance on Sunday to equal their best tally for away wins in an 18-team top-flight season from the 1997-98 campaign (six), and it would also mark their first victory in Ligue 1 at Stade de la Meinau since 2008 (3-2).
Team News
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Karol Fila is not expected to return to the Strasbourg lineup this season due to an ACL issue, Lebo Mothiba missed their previous match with a sore knee, while Angelo is out for the season because of a groin injury.
Emanuel Emegha returned to full fitness and played the entire match against Le Havre, and Habib Diarra is eligible to return this weekend after missing their previous game because of a yellow card suspension.
An 86th-minute strike courtesy of Frederic Guilbert gave Le RCS some hope in their previous encounter, but it was ultimately not enough.
Les Grenats will be without leading goalscorer Georges Mikautadze as he was red-carded in the latter stages of their defeat to Rennes.
Benjamin Tetteh and Joel Asoro were unavailable last week, and neither are likely to be on the team sheet this weekend because of injuries.
Mikautadze gave his side the lead against Stade Rennais after 17 minutes, his 12th of the season, while Pape Diallo put them in front just before the half with his second of the Ligue 1 campaign.
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Bellaarouch; Guilbert, Perrin, Sylla; Senaya, Sissoko, Santos, Delaine; Bakwa, Diarra; Gameiro
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Colin, Traore, Herelle, Cande; Sabaly, N'Doram, Atta; Jallow, Lamkel Ze, Diallo
We say: Strasbourg 1-0 Metz
Being without Mikautadze is a massive blow to the Metz attack, with the Georgian involved in 72% of their domestic goals in 2024 (13/18), more than anyone in the top five European leagues this year.
Le Racing have been sharp defensively against Metz in this competition, posting three successive clean sheets, and we believe the return of Diarra will add a positive dynamic to their attack and give them a slight edge.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
