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

The visitors, meanwhile, will be looking to record a third successive win after beating Clermont and Montpellier in their last two outings.

Match preview

After spending just one season in the second tier, newly-promoted Metz were given a rude awakening on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 campaign when they were hammered 5-1 by Rennes.

The demoralising result left Laslo Boloni's side low on confidence, but they managed to restore a sense of belief on matchday two, playing out a 2-2 draw against potential title contenders Marseille.

They managed to build on that hard-earned point last Sunday, as they edged out Clermont to claim a 1-0 victory thanks to Georges Mikautadze's second-half winner.

Fresh from clinching their first win and clean sheet of the season, Metz will be determined to make it three games without defeat when they face Reims this weekend.

Les Grenats have tended to perform well in recent games against Sunday's opponents, having avoided defeat in their last eight competitive meetings (W4, D4).

Reims, meanwhile, began Will Still's first full campaign as manager with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

Les rouges et blancs quickly picked themselves up to beat Clermont 2-0 in their first home match of the season, before adding three more points to their tally last weekend with an away win over Montpellier.

Yunis Abdelhamid's opening goal and a Teddy Teuma brace guided Reims to a 3-1 victory against Montpellier, ensuring their side rounded off matchday three in third position in the Ligue 1 table.

Following their two impressive results, Reims now have the chance to record three consecutive Ligue 1 victories for the second time in 2023 after previously doing so in February/March.

If they are able to pick up maximum points on Sunday, it would represent Reims' first competitive win over Metz in 11 years.

Metz Ligue 1 form:

L

D

W

Reims Ligue 1 form:

L

W

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Metz are unable to call upon the injured trio of Malick Mbaye, Benjamin Tetteh and Ablie Jallow, while Abou Lo is ruled out through suspension.

The hosts will have to find a way to go without the services of Georgian striker Mikautadze, who completed a move to Ajax earlier this week.

Christophe Herelle, Kevin Van Den Kerkhof and Oscar Estupinan joined the club in the final two days of the transfer window, and it remains to be seen whether any of the three new additions will be involved on Sunday.

As for the visitors, midfielder Amir Richardson is set to return to the starting lineup after serving a one-match suspension.

After missing a penalty against Montpellier, Oumar Diakite will be desperate to open his account for the season when he leads the line on Sunday.

Joseph Okumu recovered from an injury issue to take up a place on the bench last weekend, and he is likely to feature among the substitutes once again.

Metz possible starting lineup:

Oukidja; Colin, Traore, Cande, Udol; Jean Jacques, N'Doram, Camara; Elisor, Sabaly, Sane

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Foket, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, Wilson-Esbrand; Matusiwa, Teuma; Ito, Munetsi, Nakamura; Diakite

We say: Metz 1-2 Reims

Previews by email