Strasbourg vs Metz Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Strasbourg are at the beginning of a new era with a change in management as the Alsace-based outfit take on a struggling Metz side this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / US – beIN Sports Connect
Strasbourg preview: New Strasbourg
With the heavy big spending of BlueCo’s ownership, Strasbourg believe they should be pushing for UEFA Champions League qualification and they were indeed doing so but they have lost manager Liam Rosenior to affiliate club Chelsea.
He has been replaced by former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil. O’Neil’s first game in charge saw Strasbourg hammer lower league outfit Avranches by six goals to nil in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France last weekend.
Metz preview: Struggling Metz
Following their promotion to the top-flight last season, Metz have struggled throughout the campaign, as was to be expected, as they sit in the bottom two and the automatic relegation places in Ligue 1.
The visitors returned from the mid-season winter break with a 1-1 draw away at Lorient in their most recent outing last weekend before then suffering a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Ligue 2 outfit Montpellier Herault in the cup the other day.
Strasbourg team news: Defensive issues
Ivory Coast international defender Guela Doue has returned from AFCON but there are plenty of other defensive absentees, such as Mamadou Sarr and Andrew Omobamidele.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Penders; Hogsberg, Sylla, Chilwell; Ouattara, El Mourabet, Barco, Diego Moreira; Julio Enciso, Panichelli, Godo
Unavailable: Sow (Injured), Sarr (International duty), Omobamidele (Injured), Amougou (Injured), Emegha (Injured)
Questionable: Doukoure (Injured)
Metz team news: AFCON absentees
Metz will be without both Habib Diallo and Cheikh Sabaly as they are with Senegal at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, while defender Koffi Franck Koauo is missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Fischer; Colin, Stambouli, S. Sane, Mboula; Deminguet, Traore; Mbaye, Hein, Tsitaishvili; I. Sane
Unavailable: Koauo (Suspended), Diallo (International duty), Sabaly (International duty)
Questionable: Sy (Injured), Gbamin (Injured), Mangondo (Injured)
Strasbourg vs Metz prediction
Metz have struggled throughout the campaign and they are beginning this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting two points adrift of the relegation playoff place and four behind safety. Strasbourg were in very average form in the league before the departure of Rosenior as they sit outside of the top six and in desperate need of finding some form, and getting back on the winning track in the league should begin this weekend.
Strasbourg vs Metz tip: Strasbourg to win
