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

Dijon take on Metz in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the visitors looking to end a winless run of seven league matches.

The hosts, meanwhile, are guaranteed to finish bottom of Ligue 1 after a tough campaign, so are playing for pride more than anything else.

Match preview

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Indeed, after suffering 12 successive league defeats, Dijon recently ended that horrendous run with a 2-0 win over Nice, before crashing back down to Earth with a 5-1 loss at Rennes last time out.

David Linares's side actually took a ninth-minute lead via Yassine Benzia's penalty, before Martin Terrier levelled the proceedings six minutes later, with the scoreline surprisingly level at the half-time interval.

However, Dijon's soft underbelly reared its ugly head once again, with Rennes scoring four goals inside the final 20 minutes of the match to rapidly turn a close encounter into an embarrassing one for the visitors.

Linares will be hoping that his side can record what would be only their fourth league win of the season against a Metz side currently on a dire run of form themselves, but in reality it is all about preparing for next season in Ligue 2 for Dijon now.

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Metz's early season form ensured there would be no relegation concerns at the club this season, but having looked capable of challenging for the Europa League qualification positions at one point, it has been a disappointing downturn in form of late for Frederic Antonetti's side.

Having coped remarkably well with the early season loss of Ibrahima Niane, who remains the club's top league goalscorer this season despite having featured from the bench last time out against Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since sustaining an ACL injury in October, a previously tight Metz defence has become increasingly leaky in recent weeks.

That is, of course, understandable against sides stacked with the attacking talent of PSG, who recorded an important 3-1 win against Antonetti's side last weekend. Fabien Centonze had pulled his side level moments after the half-time interval, but strikes from Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi left Metz beaten for the fourth time in five matches.

Metz are still two points clear inside the top half, which would remain a decent finish for them, particularly having missed their best striker for the majority of the campaign. A win at the whipping boys of the division on Sunday would certainly go a long way towards achieving that.

Team News

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Dijon are likely to remain without Sacha Boey and Ngonda Muzinga through muscle injuries, with both hoping to return prior to the end of the season.

Didier Ndong is struggling with illness, while it remains unclear if Moussa Konate will be considered after his disciplinary issues.

Metz, meanwhile, will be tempted to hand Niane a start after he returned from his serious knee injury to play 22 minutes against PSG last time out, but Antonetti will likely continue to ease him in from the bench for the rest of the season.

Vincent Pajot, Warren Tchimbembe and Manuel Cabit are all out for the rest of the campaign, but Opa Nguette could make the matchday squad after his recent muscle issue.

Dijon possible starting lineup:
Allagbe; Chafik, Coulibaly, Manga, Panzo, Chala; Benzia, Marie, Celina; Kamara, Assale

Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Bronn, N'Doram, Boye; Centonze, Sarr, Maiga, Angban, Delaine; Boulaya, Leya

We say: Dijon 1-1 Metz

We can envisage a share of the spoils between two out-of-sorts sides.

Metz are unlikely to rediscover their form until Niane is fit and firing again next season, while Dijon are preparing for life in Ligue 2.