Metz host Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Wednesday with the visitors able to leapfrog their opponents in the table with a victory.
Neither side have scored 20 goals in the league yet this season, so it could be a cagey encounter.
Match preview
© Reuters
Indeed, Metz's goals have dried up since the long-term injury to top goalscorer Ibrahima Niane in early October, but a watertight defence has ensured they have remained in the top half and comfortably clear of any relegation concerns.
Frederic Antonetti's side were 15th in their first season back in France's top flight at the time French football was curtailed due to COVID-19 last season, so any improvement on that position would have to be considered a respectable achievement for a club which has flickered between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 in recent seasons.
In the absence of Niane, more will be expected of forwards Opa Nguette and Farid Boulaya, who have both registered three league goals this season. Aaron Leya Iseka also came into the side prior to the winter break, scoring two goals in three starts.
Should Antonetti continue to keep things tight at the back, though, Metz can be assured of another season in Ligue 1 given that they are 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
© Reuters
Bordeaux, meanwhile, are looking to return to the top half of the table having dropped down the French pecking order in recent seasons.
The six-time Ligue 1 champions, who won the title as recently as 2009, look to be heading for a third successive bottom-half finish having finished in the top half in 12 of the 13 seasons prior to that.
Jean-Louis Gasset is the man in charge tasked with returning former glories to Les Girondins, with his side similar to Metz in many ways this season in terms of struggling for creativity but remaining solid at the back.
Indeed, Metz are one of only five sides who have conceded fewer goals than Gasset's team this season, but only the three sides in the relegation zone have scored fewer. The likes of Hatem Ben Arfa and Josh Maja must come to the party if Bordeaux are to improve their fortunes.
Metz Ligue 1 form: LLDWWL
Bordeaux Ligue 1 form: DWLLWL
Team News
© Reuters
Metz are without long-term absentees Niane and Manuel Cabit for the visit of Bordeaux, with Nguette, Kevin N'Doram, Matthieu Udol and Vincent Pajot all injury doubts.
Fabien Centonze and Victorien Angban are both at risk of a one-match suspension, with one more yellow card triggering a ban.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, are likely to be without Nicolas De Preville, Samuel Kalu and former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny due to injury.
Central defender Pablo is one yellow card away from missing a match through suspension.
Metz possible starting lineup:
Caillard; Centonze, Bronn, Kouyate, Boye; Gueye, Angban, Fofana, Yade; Boulaya; Leya
Bordeaux possible starting lineup:
Costil; Sabaly, Baysse, Pablo, Benito; Basic, Adli; Zerkane, Ben Arfa, Oudin; Hwang
We say: Metz 1-1 Bordeaux
With both sides better defensively than they are offensively, we can envisage a cagey encounter between two defensive sides, with the performance of Ben Arfa crucial in terms of lighting up the game.
A low scoring draw would not be a surprise, with both sides content to avoid defeat as they look for a respectable mid-table finish this season.
