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

Metz will be looking to escape the bottom three when they welcome Rennes to the Stade Saint-Symphorien in Ligue 1 action on Sunday afternoon.

Whilst the hosts are struggling down in 18th, the visitors come into the game on the back of a shock victory in their most recent game.

Match preview

© Reuters

Having consolidated their place in Ligue 1 with a 15th-placed finish in the 2019-20 season, after promotion the previous year, Metz then finished an impressive 10th last season under manager Frederic Antonetti.

The 60-year-old has seen his side struggle to match that form in the early stages of the current campaign, however, even going on a run of four straight defeats in September.

They finally earned their first victory away at Brest at the eighth attempt and would have hoped that could spark something of a revival.

However, they returned to losing ways before the international break, throwing away the lead twice against Angers to ultimately lose 3-2 thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Stephane Bahoken.

Les Grenats will now have to regroup again as they aim to end a 12-match winless streak in the league on home soil dating back all the way to early February.

© Reuters

Rennes appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks, after a blip which saw them lose three consecutive Ligue 1 games.

They responded with a thumping 6-0 win at home to newcomers Clermont, before securing a 2-1 win away against Vitesse in the Europa Conference League - despite a red card for Loic Bade - and then managed to top both of those results in their final game before the break.

Even the most optimistic of Rennes fans would have been hoping for a draw at best from the Paris Saint-Germain's visit to Roazhon Park, considering the runaway leaders' 100% record to that point.

However, goals from Gaetan Laborde at the very end of the first half and Flavien Tait at the very start of the second saw Les Rennais pull off a shock 2-0 victory, with Lionel Messi and co unable to find a way past their stubborn defence.

Bruno Genesio can consider their blip thoroughly over and the confidence within his squad will surely be sky high after such a giant-killing.

Team News

© Reuters

Boubakar Kouyate returns from suspension for Metz, but they will now have to make do without Habib Maiga and Fabien Centonze who both picked up their third yellow card in the space of 10 games last time out.

Sofiane Alakouch looks set to step in at right-back and Boubacar Traore will step into Maiga's spot in the middle of the park.

After experimenting with a 3-4-1-2 during the early part of the season, Antonetti has reverted to a flat back four of late and will likely stick with it here.

Rennes have no long-term injuries, but Jeremy Doku and Lovro Majer remain doubts, having not featured before the break.

After their shock win over PSG, Genesio is unlikely to change too much on Sunday, which may mean Bade remains on the bench in favour of youngster Warmed Omari.

Metz possible starting lineup:

Oukidja; Alakouch, Bronn, Kouyate, Udol; Gueye, Sarr, Pajot, Traore, De Preville; Niane

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Gomis; Traore, Omari, Aguerd, Meling; Bourigeaud, Martin, Tait, Sulemana; Laborde, Terrier

We say: Metz 1-2 Rennes

Metz will be desperate to find that home win, but their leaky defence - with 19 goals already conceded this season - will likely be their undoing against a Rennes side full of confidence after their surprise victory against the league leaders. We are backing a narrow away win.