Solid leader of the championship, OGC Nice travels tonight (5:00 PM) to Metz’s field, with the main objective of continuing to collect points.
The victory in Salzburg (0-1) in the Europa League was like a relief for Lucien Favre’s players. Dominant in the championship, the Aiglons didn’t seem to be up to the task in the Europa League. However, the win in Austria has revived the Aiglons and even allows them to hope for qualification. It seems complicated but not impossible.
But already, an away game in Metz is on the horizon. The Metz club is among the three promoted to Ligue 1 after finishing second in Ligue 2. Against a motivated team, the Gym will have to maintain their level of play that has worked so well since the beginning of the season, with the aim of scoring a few more points that will not be surplus.
The Opponent
During the summer transfer window, many players joined the Moselle-based club, including some familiar with Ligue 1, like Renaud Cohade from Saint-Étienne, Yann Jouffre from Lorient, and Franck Signorino, who returned to his training club from Reims. Young talents from Ligue 2 also joined the garnet squad, such as Simon Falette from Brest, Opa Nguette from Valenciennes, and Florent Mollet from Créteil. Mevlüt Erding will wear the garnet jersey for the season on loan from Hannover. Japanese international goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima signed a two-year contract for the role of third goalkeeper. Promising young talent Ismaïla Sarr arrives from the Génération Foot Academy.
While the championship has already started, two defensive reinforcements were added to the garnet squad: Benoît Assou-Ekotto joins on a free transfer after spending a year at Saint-Étienne, following ten seasons in the Premier League, to strengthen the left flank of the Metz defense. Finally, central defender Milan Biševac, who played for Paris and Lyon, joins on a free transfer from Lazio Rome.
The club also signed four first professional contracts for players from its academy: promising young Luxembourg international Vincent Thill, as well as Alexis Larriere, Gautier Hein, and Vahid Selimovic.
On the departure side, all five players who were on loan last year leave the club: Juan Kaprof, Célestin Djim, Tiago Gomes, Daniel Candeias, and Christian Bekamenga. Philippe Hinschberger, maintained as head of the squad, decides with management to slim down an overly large roster to around 25 players. The club’s “children” Romain Métanire and Yeni N’Gbakoto definitively remove the garnet jersey. The former flies to Belgium with KV Kortrijk, and the latter decides to embark on a new journey after ten years in Moselle, to wear the colors of Queens Park Rangers in the Championship. Nuno Reis, André Santos, Juan Falcón, Ferjani Sassi, José Luis Palomino, Sergueï Krivets, Dieudonné Gbaklé, Samy Kehli, Anthony M’Fa, Marouane Sahraoui, and Kwame N’Sor also leave the Moselle shores.
The Mesins have had a fairly balanced start to the season: after nine matches, they have a record of four wins, one draw, and four defeats. The club currently occupies eleventh place with 13 points.
The Absent Players
On the Nice side, the prolonged absences of Maxime Le Marchand, Mickaël Le Bihan, and Gautier Lloris (injured) are still regretted. Mario Balotelli, Dalbert Henrique, and Paul Baysse will also be absent.
Regarding Metz, the absentees are named Chris Philipps, Florent Mollet, and Matthieu Udol. Cheick Doucouré still has one match suspension to serve.
The Nice Squad
Goalkeepers: Hassen, Cardinale
Defenders: Souquet, Ricardo, Boscagli, Dante, Sarr, Burner.
Midfielders: Belhanda, Seri, Lusamba, Eysseric, Walter, Bodmer, Cyprien, Koziello
Forwards: Pléa, Donis
The Metz Squad
Goalkeepers: Didillon, Oberhauser
Defenders: Balliu, Rivierez, Milan, Falette, Signorino, Assou-Ekotto
Midfielders: Lejeune, Nguette, Goudiaby, Cohade, Mandjeck, Hein, Jouffre
Forwards: Erding, Diallo, Sarr
The Referee
Mr. François Letexier will be the referee for the match between FC Metz and OGC Nice this Sunday, October 23, at 5:00 PM at Stade Saint-Symphorien. He will be assisted by Frédéric Hebrard and Cyril Mugnier. Hakim Ben El Hadj will be the fourth official for the match.
