The Northerners need to begin picking up points quickly if they are to escape from the foot of the table.
When: 4.00 pm GMT, 14 March 2015
Where: Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien, Metz
Metz FC know that their chances of escaping relegation to Ligue 2 are, at best, slim. Les Granets are down in 20th place and find themselves on 22 points after 28 matches.
Heading into this weekend’s fixtures, the Northerners are nine points from safety, and with 17th-place Lorient welcoming Caen, cannot afford to fall further behind.
However, in Saint-Etienne, they face a side with the wind in their sails. ASSE had to bide their time against Lorient last weekend, but ultimately overcame the ten-men Merlus 2-0 with goals from Yohan Mollo and Max-Alain Gradel.
Mollo may well start this weekend after his excellent showing as a substitute on Sunday, while Christophe Galtier can also welcome back midfielder Franck Tabanou, who has been absent with injury.
The Greens are without several key defenders however, which may give some sustenance to the troubled home side.
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