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NederlandHaving come so close yet so far against Paris Saint-Germain last time out, Bordeaux travel to the Stade Saint-Symphorien to take on Metz in Ligue 1 on Sunday afternoon.
While Les Girondins went down 3-2 to the capital outfit just before the international break, the hosts shared the spoils in a goalless stalemate with Marseille.
Match preview
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With Marseille a far cry from the side they once were at the start of the season, Metz sought to take advantage and sink Jorge Sampaoli's fatigued crop on November 7, but they were ultimately forced to settle for a point at the Orange Velodrome.
Thomas Delaine came closest for Les Grenats when his effort crashed against the post - although Steve Mandanda may have got a fingertip to help it on its way - but that can still be regarded as a positive result for 10-man Metz amid their dire run of form.
The goalless stalemate with Marseille saw Frederic Antonetti's side stretch their winless run in the league to five games, and they have now slipped to 20th in the rankings as a result of Saint-Etienne claiming their first win of the season before the international break.
Metz marched to an inconsequential 2-1 friendly victory over Kaiserslautern during the break, but their struggles in Ligue 1 are threatening to spell the end of their three-year stay in the top flight, having won just one of their last 16 in the division.
Furthermore, Les Grenats have not managed to prevail on home soil since beating Nantes 2-0 back in January - losing nine and drawing five of their subsequent home games since - and they are unsurprisingly the only team in Ligue 1 without a home win to their name this term.
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After Kylian Mbappe and Neymar had stolen the show to put PSG three goals to the good against Bordeaux, Vladimir Petkovic's side found a sixth gear in the dying embers of the encounter to threaten a storming comeback at the Matmut Atlantique.
Alberth Elis reduced the deficit in the 78th minute before M'Baye Niang made it 3-2 with seconds remaining in second-half injury time, but it was too little too late for Les Girondins to complete a remarkable turnaround against the runaway leaders.
Defeat to PSG represents only Bordeaux's second loss from eight Ligue 1 games - four of which have ended with the spoils shared - but Les Girondins' relatively solid spell of form has not been enough for them to clamber to safety as they remain 18th in the rankings.
However, only one point separates Bordeaux from 14th-placed Troyes, so a positive showing at the Stade Saint-Symphorien coupled with results elsewhere going their way could see them usurp their bottom-half rivals and provide a much-needed injection of confidence.
The visitors have gone 15 Ligue 1 games away from home without a clean sheet, though, and they were held to a goalless stalemate on Metz's turf last term before suffering a 2-1 defeat at home in the most recent meeting back in February.
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Team News
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Metz centre-back Jemerson was given his marching orders after 56 minutes against Marseille and will serve a suspension here, with 18-year-old Lenny Lacroix potentially earning a call-up in his place.
Sikou Niakate would have been the first-choice replacement, but the 22-year-old is struggling with a muscular problem, while left-backs Manuel Cabit and Matthieu Udol are long-term absentees.
Vincent Pajot was forced to watch the friendly win over Kaiserslautern from the stands after taking a blow to the hip against Marseille, but he was unlikely to force his way into the XI here anyway.
Meanwhile, Bordeaux's main main Hwang Ui-jo is still struggling to overcome an ankle injury and has been ruled out of this contest, but Issouf Sissokho is back in training after recovering from illness.
Defenders Laurent Koscielny (muscle) and Paul Baysse (knee) are also expected to miss out, but Mexer is back in the fold and should be ready to cover for the former alongside Stian Gregersen.
Niang will hope that his strike against PSG is a sign of better things to come, but the striker may just miss out on a start up top to Elis once more.
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Bronn, Kouyate, Lacroix; Centonze, Maiga, N'Doram, Delaine; Boulaya; De Preville, Niane
Bordeaux possible starting lineup:
Costil; Pembele, Mexer, Gregersen, Mangas; Otavio, Onana, Adli; Kalu, Elis, Dilrosun
We say: Metz 1-1 Bordeaux
Metz's abysmal home record has to end at some point, but they are unlikely to experience much joy against a Bordeaux side who have had no problems finding the back of the net in recent weeks.
A refreshed Girondins side should pose a sterner test than a jaded Marseille outfit, although the visitors' defensive record is hardly exemplary, and we expect this encounter to end all square.
