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

Angers will host Metz on Sunday with the home side looking to add to the 13 points they have collected this season, which leaves them in fifth place heading into the weekend.

Their opponents enter the matchday in the Ligue 1 relegation playoff position with only six points to their name this term.

Match preview

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Angers started the campaign in impressive fashion, with three of their first four Ligue 1 games ending in victory, but their season has slowed in the last few weeks.

They are winless in their last four fixtures, although they have only lost once in that period and they enter Sunday's encounter on the back of two consecutive draws.

In their last outing, Mama Balde gave Troyes the lead, but Thomas Mangani scored from the spot to salvage a point for Angers.

Despite Gerald Baticle's side struggling for wins of late, the Angers boss will be pleased with their season so far with the defence proving key as they have only conceded seven goals this term.

Another factor in the hosts enjoying a promising start to the campaign is that they have picked up two of their three victories at the Stade Raymond Kopa and they will aim to make home advantage count once again on Sunday.

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Metz finished in an impressive 10th place last season, but they have struggled to match that form in the early stages of the current campaign.

They have only collected one victory this term, which has resulted in Metz languishing near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table.

The positive for Les Grenats is that their sole win of the season came in their most recent outing when they managed to edge out Brest in a close encounter.

In that clash, Brest's Romain Faivre scored from the spot to equalise after Nicolas De Preville gave Metz the lead, but Fabien Centonze grabbed a winner to ensure Frederic Antonetti's side clinched their first win of the season.

That was Centonze's third goal of the season, which means he is the club's top scorer despite playing the majority of the campaign at right-back or right midfield and Antonetti will want his strikers to contribute more if Metz are to move away from the danger zone.

Team News

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Angers are still without Zinedine Ould Khaled, who is out injured with a thigh problem.

Sofiane Boufal returned to the squad last weekend and after getting some minutes against Troyes, the 28-year-old could come into the starting lineup on Sunday.

Baticle may decide to bring Boufal in for Mohamed-Ali Cho, who will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Metz do not have either Thomas Delaine or Kevin N'Doram available, with the pair both out injured.

Manuel Cabit will also not feature as the 28-year-old is a long-term absentee.

Antonetti will have Dylan Bronn available after the centre-back served a one-match suspension and he could come back into the starting lineup to replace the suspended Kiki Kouyate.

Angers possible starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Manceau, Traore, Thomas; Cabot, Mendy, Ounahi, Mangani, Capelle; Fulgini, Boufal

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Centonze, Bronn, Niakate, Udol; Gueye, Sarr, Maiga, Pajot, De Preville; Niane

We say: Angers 2-1 Metz

This could be a tightly-contested affair and though Angers are winless in their last four games, we think the hosts will have too much quality for a Metz side who are struggling to match the form of last season.