Despite their recent struggles, a win on Saturday would mean Nice leapfrog their opponents in the standings and see a more positive outlook return to the club that finished the previous season in fifth position. Conceding goals has been an issue of late, however, with eight efforts leaked in their last three appearances. If Ursea wants to turn things around at the four-time French champions, then solving their defensive issues will be pivotal.
Antonetti is unlikely to make many changes from his side's recent game against Bordeaux, given the team's performances of late. Experienced centre-back Dante is expected to be out for the remainder of the season following a cruciate ligament injury picked up in November. The former Bayern Munich man's absence has been a big blow to Nice, but they have recently signed Arsenal youngster William Saliba on loan, who could make his second start for Les Aiglons.
Left-back Racine Coly is also on the treatment table, with the Senegal international nursing a neck injury. Neither side score freely and both are likely to be happy to settle for a share of the spoils. Top betting tip Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.
Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips. Over 1. A win for Metz had a probability of The hosts have risen to 10th in the table after going their last three games unbeaten, while Nantes remain just three points clear of danger. However, Frederic Antonetti 's men defied the odds to claim a win at the Groupama Stadium, as Aaron Leya Iseka came off the bench to bag a late winner and send Les Grenats into delirium.
With only one defeat from their last seven matches, Metz have now overtaken a Montpellier HSC side tipped to push for a European place, and Antonetti's men should certainly be looking upwards rather than over their shoulder heading into the second half of the season. The hosts' tally of 28 points after 20 matches is their best at this stage since the turn of the millennium, and having kept four clean sheets in their last six matches, only Paris Saint-Germain 5 have recorded more shut-outs in the same period.
Then again, Antonetti's men have only managed to prevail once in their last six attempts at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, and they are now facing a Nantes side who have found their resolve under Domenech. The visitors have shared the spoils in their first three matches of , although those draws have come against European-chasing teams in Rennes, Montpellier and most recently Lens.
It was a tale of two penalties in the first half as Imran Louza gave Nantes the lead from 12 yards after Gael Kakuta had blasted his spot kick over the bar, but Lens ensured that Domenech's wait for a win would continue as Kakuta redeemed himself with a second-half equaliser. Unbeaten but winless since taking charge, Domenech's Nantes are flirting with relegation and are only three points clear of 18th-placed Nimes after their win at Marseille, and failure to come out on top against Metz would stretch Les Canaris' winless run to 12 matches since a win at Lorient on November 8.
Metz took the spoils in a win when these sides last met at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, but both teams walked away with a point in a draw at Nantes back in November. Leya Iseka should also be handed a start following his winner last time out - potentially in place of Vagner.
Opa Nguette , Kevin N'Doram and Ibrahima Niane - the latter of whom is expected to be out for the season - all remain sidelined for the visitors. Meanwhile, Nantes will welcome Charles Traore back from suspension for this game, although it is difficult to see Fabio losing his place on the left-hand side of defence.
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