Preview: Lyon vs. Metz - prediction, team news, lineups

League leaders Lyon host Metz in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with Rudi Garcia's side needing a win to hold off the chasing pack.

Metz, meanwhile, have failed to win their last three matches, but can move back into the top half of the table by causing an upset and avoiding defeat.

Match preview

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Given that they have remained unbeaten at home so far this season, Garcia will feel confident that his side can deliver the goods on Sunday.

His squad's morale will have been boosted even further too by last weekend's 2-2 draw at Rennes, with Jason Denayer's late equaliser salvaging a point after trailing 2-0 until Memphis Depay's 11th league strike of the season.

That point also ensured that Lyon stayed one point ahead of PSG and Lille in the table, with French football potentially having its most exciting title race since Monaco sensationally won the league in the 2016-17 campaign.

With Depay, Toko Ekambi and Tinotenda Kadewere all in rampant goalscoring form in Lyon's front three, Garcia's side look to have their best chance of winning Ligue 1 since the club last lifted the title in 2007-08, but there is a long way to go yet.

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Metz, meanwhile, are ticking along nicely this season under Frederic Antonetti, having amassed 25 points from 19 games.

Despite losing top goalscorer Ibrahima Niane to a potentially season-ending knee injury earlier in the campaign, Antonetti has helped keep his side comfortably clear of any relegation concerns.

However, there is no doubt that it has not been particularly pleasing on the eye, with Niane still sitting on twice as many goals (six) as any of his teammates despite having only played in the first six games of the season.

Indeed, Metz have only scored one goal in their last four games, which came via John Boye's late equaliser in last weekend's 1-1 draw against Nice, but they remain a very tough side to beat and will look to contain Lyon on Sunday.

Lyon Ligue 1 form: WDWWWD

Metz Ligue 1 form: DWWLDD

Team News

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Lyon will remain without Moussa Dembele due to the forward's broken arm, although the former Celtic striker is not an automatic pick in Garcia's side these days in any case.

Bruno Guimaraes is also unavailable due to COVID-19, but otherwise Garcia appears to have a clean bill of health to choose from.

Metz, meanwhile, will not have Niane or Manuel Cabit available for the trip to Lyon, with neither player likely to play again this season after sustaining serious injuries.

Farid Boulaya and Opa Nguette are also both doubtful to travel to Lyon, leaving Antonetti's side woefully short of goals, with Kevin N'Doram and Matthieu Udol unlikely to recover from knocks.

Lyon possible starting lineup: Lopes; De Sciglio, Marcelo, Denayer, Cornet; Paqueta, Mendes, Aouar; Kadewere, Depay, Ekambi

Metz possible starting lineup: Oukidja; Centonze, Bronn, Kouyate, Boye, Delaine; Gueye, Maiga, Angban, Maziz; Leya

We say: Lyon 2-0 Metz

With Metz potentially missing their three top goalscorers, this should be a comfortable victory for Lyon.

While Garcia's side may have to remain patient in terms of finding the breakthrough, the amount of firepower they have in attack should ensure that the goal eventually comes, with Metz unlikely to be able to respond with any meaningful offensive threat.

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