Metz will be looking to avoid a fourth defeat on the trot in all competitions on Friday night in the French top flight when they play host to league leaders, Lille, at their Stade Saint-Symphorien as the hosts look to keep their slim hopes of a possible top five finish alive.
Metz were also bundled out of the Coupe de France in midweek against Monaco losing on penalties after the scores were level at 0-0 after normal time, while on the domestic Ligue 1 front, Metz have also lost three of their last four matches overall.
1️⃣7️⃣ clean sheets in @Ligue1_ENG so far this season. 𝓛𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓼 & 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷, Mr. Mike Maignan 👏 pic.twitter.com/eYpmmVcH7p— LOSC Lille EN (@LOSC_EN) April 7, 2021
1️⃣7️⃣ clean sheets in @Ligue1_ENG so far this season. 𝓛𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓮𝓼 & 𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓵𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷, Mr. Mike Maignan 👏 pic.twitter.com/eYpmmVcH7p
Recent defeats against Angers, Rennes and Monaco have seriously dented Metz’s ambitions of a top five finish and Friday’s hosts now find themselves seven points adrift of the current 5th placed outfit, Lens, ahead of this tough looking assignment against high-flying Lille.
The bigger picture shows that Metz have managed to win just two of their last nine matches overall in Ligue 1, both of which were picked up on the road at Nice and Bordeaux respectively while losing their last three on the trot at home.
Metz will be without midfield trio Nguette, Pajot and Tchimbembe along with forward Niane who has scored 6 goals in 6 appearances.
Lille secured a massive victory last time out in Ligue 1 with a 1-0 win in Paris against PSG which not only serves as a crucial morale-boost but also handed Lille a priceless three points in their quest for a domestic top flight title.
That huge win has also helped lift Lille back to the top of Ligue 1 and a three point cushion over 2nd placed PSG and this lead could be further extended to a six-point margin with a win at Metz on Friday night.
Lille have produced a consistent and impressive sequence of results since the turn of the year as the visitors have suffered just one defeat out of their last 13 matches overall, while also picking up nine wins during this period too and they have to be considered for success here too.
The visitors have also been impressive on the road this campaign too as they’ve notched 10 wins, 4 draws and just the one 1 defeat to date on their travels and they’ve won eight of their last nine away from home too.
Lille defender Djalo is suspended while defenders Celik and Pied along with midfielder Yazici and forward David are expected to be sidelined through injury.
Lille’s consistency should see them over the line away at Metz here.