After a chaotic start to the season, Metz finally got their league campaign going. In recent weeks, Les Grenats racked up three consecutive wins against Lens (2-0), Nantes (0-2) and Nice (2-1). But since then, Metz have fallen back into their old ways, losing to Brest (3-2), Rennes (0-1) and Auxerre last week (3-1). While the Moselle-based side have shown they have what it takes to stay up, they will need to pick up points quickly if they are to achieve this goal.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a string of league victories against Nice (1-0), Lyon (2-3) and Le Havre (3-0) during November. This was followed by a setback in Monaco (1-0), after which Les Rouge et Bleu responded perfectly by thrashing Rennes at the Parc des Princes last weekend (5-0). The Parisians remain second in the table, just one point behind Lens.
3 – Lee Kang-In, who scored Paris's last goal against Metz, has been involved in three goals in two matches against Les Grenats in the top flight (one goal, two assists), performing better against no other team.
16 – Paris Saint-Germain has fielded 16 different players in the top flight this season, the highest total among Europe's top five leagues.
15 – Paris has won each of its last 14 Ligue 1 matches against Metz.
In goal, Stéphane Le Mignan has placed his trust in Jonathan Fischer, who arrived this summer from Denmark. In front of him, Jean-Philippe Gbamin has established himself as one of the key players in the Metz team, alongside Maxime Colin, who could play at right centre-back in a five-man defence. The final starting spot in central defence would then be contested between Sadibou Sané and Ghanaian international Terry Yegbe.
At right wing-back, in addition to Maxime Colin, Koffi Kouao could also be in contention for a place in Metz's starting eleven. Accustomed to playing one position higher, Georgian international Giorgi Tsitaishvili is a credible alternative, but is more attack-minded. On the left side, however, there is no uncertainty, as Senegalese international Fodé Ballo-Touré, who came up through the Rouge et Bleu youth system, is expected to start.
As for midfield, we should see a double pivot with Boubacar Traoré, on loan this season from Wolverhampton. The Malian international should be supported by former Strasbourg player Jessy Deminguet, who has a less defensive profile. As for Alpha Touré, the young Senegalese player (19) should make an appearance during the match. Capable of playing both on the right wing and in the centre of the pitch, Gauthier Hein (5 goals and 2 assists this season in Ligue 1) will naturally be expected to play his part.
The Grenats captain will undoubtedly lead the Metz attack, while Habib Diallo will have the difficult task of converting chances against the Parisian goal. The 2021 African champion with Senegal could be preferred to Ibou Sané and Swedish international Joel Asoro at the point of the attack. In this case, the latter could be in contention for a starting spot on the left wing, where he will face competition from another Senegalese international, Cheikh Sabaly.